The offering from France tv StoryLab in this innovative co-production goes well beyond the ordinary. It propels you through time's confines into a realm simultaneously recognizable and distinct. Titled "Emperor," this interactive virtual reality escapade delves into the intricate bond shared between a father and his daughter, delving deep into the corridors of the father's mind. In poetic fashion, it addresses an affliction that annually impacts nearly 300,000 individuals in France: aphasia.
Empereur invites users to experience aphasia not just as a pathology, but as a distant and mysterious territory, rich in shared memories. By exploring these memories, they will be able to piece together fragments of a father-daughter relationship, and help them to rediscover the link that exists beyond words.
Reinventing ties and words
Aphasia emerges as a language disorder triggered by brain lesions resulting from occurrences such as strokes, head trauma, or degenerative ailments like Alzheimer's. It can culminate in either partial or complete loss of speech, accompanied by challenges in comprehension, articulation, and written expression. Aphasia stands as a multifaceted and distinctive condition, deeply impacting the lives of those affected. Its repercussions extend to their interpersonal interactions, particularly affecting communication dynamics with close ones due to the hurdles it presents.
Directly inspired by the personal story of Marion Burger, co-author and co-director of the creation, and her father, "Emperor" is a journey. A journey that answers the author's need to comprehend her father's new realm and safeguard the connection binding them. Within this experience, users adopt the persona of the father, guided by his daughter. Through memories spanning a lifetime, they gradually pick up the thread of their relationship. This immersive journey delves into the inner realm of the man, endeavoring to decipher and convey a narrative he cannot articulate.
It's extremely interesting to see [that] it's ultimately the stories we have with each other that have created this language.
Presented in a monochrome style inspired by traditional animation, this intimate tale is seen through the lens of a journey with surreal accents, offering exploration of aphasia as a distant and outlined land. This aesthetic approach helps us to understand what this world has become, where sensations, perceptions of the world, communication and interaction with others must be reinvented and adapted.
[The environment in which the user evolves] is an imperfect rendering, ultimately like my father's handwriting, which he writes like a child learning to write.
Emperor in Official Selection at the Venice Film Festival, but not only...
Already presented as a Work in Progress at the Annecy 2023 Festival, this creation was awarded the Achievement prize Venice Immersive at the 80th Venice Film Festival.
We're very proud of this committed, poetic and empathetic work! Bravissimo to the whole team!
#BiennaleCinema2023 #Venezia80 #VeniceImmersive pic.twitter.com/xkVRhRuMLf
— La Biennale di Venezia (@la_Biennale) September 9, 2023
It was also an opportunity for on-site visitors to discover and test the experience in a premiere setting.
Emperor also received the Best UX design award at the last Stereopsia on October 21st.
A warm welcome for the VR experience that will be available very soon.
