Short Film ‘SOFI’ Explores Connection Through the Lens of Time
WOVEN INTO A TAPESTRY OF GIRLHOOD, CONNECTION, AND THE ENIGMATIC POWER OF MEMORIES — the short film SOFI, written, directed, and edited by Vanesa Moreno and co-written with Carolina Campos, encaptures an emotional journey of the aching pains of growing up. Inspired by personal experiences, SOFI provides a safe haven of sorts for a deeper connection to the past, one that our lead finds solace in amidst her journey of getting older and navigating the triumphs and tribulations of the world changing right in front of her.
After a hazy memory of two young girls playing with dolls, the film follows our lead, Sofi (Sophie Nguyen), through a typical — yet emotionally charged — day. Sofi is an artist, highlighted by the indie movie posters scattered across her walls, the cameras she holds tight, and the mess of easels and paint in her room. Throughout the film, Sofi is defined by her exasperation: she’s on her period, working a 9–5 day job she hates, and she gets into a fender-bender. Though dialogue is scarce throughout the film, Sofi manages to convey a dreamy, pensive frustration, one that is deeply intertwined with the challenges of adulthood and the revolving door of her childhood hidden within memory.
While we watch Sofi struggling with the mundane, we get a glimpse of her past in the shape of an unnamed woman holding a film camera. We don’t know who she is at first, and we don’t know what she’s doing there. We know she’s an artist, much like Sofi, and that she carries a film camera lens cap that ends up falling on the same street Sofi happens to be on. And although their paths don’t cross, the lens cap is found by Sofi and triggers a wave of nostalgia and a semblance of the past.
In the end (spoiler warning), the woman never gets her film lens cap returned, and their journeys never cross again. We see Sofi, sitting on her stoop, staring at the lens cap with a curious familiarity. But the open ending feels hopeful somehow — although the woman lost her lens cap, the audience knows who’s keeping it safe. So then, the lens cap isn’t really lost — it’s a piece of the woman that Sofi will carry with her; a piece of their shared history in this small, tangible and miscellaneous cap, which connects them while their relationship doesn’t quite exist anymore.
Moreno didn’t stray away from letting her own experiences inspire SOFI. The 23-year-old Bolivian filmmaker, based in Los Angeles and New York City, drew from the intimate connections of girlhood and friendship, emphasizing a tether that can never be truly severed.
“I think the decision came from having my own best friends from childhood fade away and them becoming a distant memory,” Moreno shared on the ambiguous ending. “I liked showing that even though they never cross paths, they're still connected through this lens cap that she lost, emphasizing their shared interests in photography.”
Shot on 16 mm Kodak film, Moreno found this medium to be the most rewarding part of creating SOFI. The stunning cinematography, costume design, and setting are a testament to Moreno’s vision to craft a film that looks as real as it feels. Beyond its nostalgic ambiance, the cinematography infuses a gritty, realistic sense of anxiety and frustration by incorporating the authentic sounds of the location.
“I wanted to emphasize the nostalgia of childhood by having some texture in the cinematography with Super 16 mm,” she said.
Above all, the short film is a love letter to the art of filmmaking and the act of creation, capturing the essence of the friendships we forge along the way. It’s a seamless weaving of a tapestry of growth, connection, and the enigmatic power of memories captured through a film camera's lens.
At its core, SOFI grapples with the raw realities of navigating life in your twenties, portraying the complexities and frustrations of feeling lost and living day by day. The film's gritty realism and nostalgic undertones not only evoke a sense of longing for the past but also emphasize the profound impact of friendship as a source of comfort and resilience amidst the chaos of youth. Even when friendships grow or fall apart, the memories still remain, and the love is endless.
Moreno hopes to explore in the future sibling dynamics surrounding twinhood. Exploring themes of identity, girlhood, queerness are her primary focus, but she also loves the challenge of working with non-actors.
“It really is rewarding when you can nail a performance with an actor who has no idea how to act,” she sais. “It also blends the documentary side of things — it's more real.”
Stay connected with Moreno's work and upcoming projects by visiting her website and following her on Instagram. Don't miss out on her captivating storytelling and unique filmmaking approach!
