The short film “North Pole” is an audiovisual exploration of identity in the form of a dreamlike contemporary fairy tale. Shot on 16 mm film, it’s a playful cinematic journey that blurs the lines between reality and the mind of the main character. Max, a young ice-cream truck merchant and artist, experiences paralyzing stage fright before his DJ performance in an underground techno club. Trapped in self-doubt about his artistic, social abilities, and sexuality, Max attempts to find his courage and encounters two ambiguous characters who personify his emotions.

The suffocatingly friendly male character, Alex, embodies Max’s loneliness and keeps him isolated from the rest of the world. However, the female character, Helen, serves as the muse of self-confidence, grabbing Max’s attention but eventually trapping him in a place where he needs to find balance and independence from these overwhelming inner forces.

The script’s idea originated from the introspective depths of myself as a musician, artist, and young film director, characterizing fragmented identity. It also resulted from the peculiar social rollercoaster that we experienced during the pandemic. Focusing on modern youth in Eastern Europe, the film covers themes such as identity, self-confidence, loneliness, sexuality, and rave culture. Alternating between an underground rave club and a foggy, dreamlike seashore, it also portrays the landscape of Baltic countries.