Tesla: lumière mondiale

The Tesla World Light

Tesla: luz mundial

Matthew Rankin

Canada

2017

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Description

The visionary inventor Nikola Tesla battles against his insecurity, his need for financing, love for a dove and his theory on alternating current in a fantastic and hallucinogenic nightmare. In this virtuoso experimental hybrid, Matthew Rankin imagines Tesla’s world through archaic film cinematographic styles, painting with light, animation and psychoanalysis. (RS)

Awards and festivals

- Rendez-vous Québec Cinéma - Special Mention for the Best Short Animation (2018)
- Cannes - Semaine de la critique 2017)
- Annecy - Official Selection (2017)
- Sydney Film Festival - Official Selection (2017)
- Seminci (2017)
- Fantastic Fest Austin - Best Picture and Best Director (Category: Shorts with Legs) (2017)
- Ottawa International Animation Festival - Best Animation Technique and Media Prize (2017)
- Toronto International Film Festival - Honourable Mention (2017)

Biography of the director

Matthew Rankin
He studied Québec History at McGill University and Université Laval before devoting himself to filmmaking. His work features a blend of genres, the use of historical or documentary elements, and a referential, lyrical aesthetic. Two films that exemplify his approach are Tabula Rasa (2011), inspired by the Winnipeg flood of 1950, and Mynarski Death Plummet (2014), about the death of the Canadian war hero Andrew Mynarski. His style can be likened to those of Guy Maddin and Deco Dawson, eminent members of what might be called the “Winnipeg School.” Rankin frequently makes use of experimental techniques, in unique, direct manipulation of the film itself. Cattle Call (co-produced with Mike Maryniuk, 2008) is typical of this approach. Three of his films have competed at the Sundance Film Festival (Negativipeg, Tabula Rasa, and Mynarski Death Plummet). Matthew Rankin was awarded a National Media Arts Prize in 2014 for his body of work. He is currently working on his first feature film entitled The 20th Century.