"Rocks In My Pockets"- A Crazy Quest For Sanity

Eastern European animation conjures up images of very sombre, abstract work from the Soviet era. Either that or The Simpsons spoof "Worker and Parasite". But this is the twenty-first century and the English-language animated feature Rocks In My Pockets from Latvian filmmaker Signe Baumane is something very different. Still, it's a long way from anything you'll see in mainstream western animation. The film looks to be incredibly personal, and charts the various women of Baumane's family and their struggles with depression and mental illness. If that sounds a bit heavy, it's being sold as a "funny film about depression", with a "twisted sense of humour".

Partially funded through Kickstarter, it will be released this coming September in New York and LA, with a wider US release planned shortly after. Sadly, there's seemingly no release planned for the UK as yet. It employs a combination of hand-drawn animation (with a distinct similarity to Bill Plympton) and stop-motion to create a very interesting look. Check out the trailer below, and visit the film's official website for more details.

“Rocks In My Pockets” is a story of mystery and redemption. The film is based on true events involving the women of my family, including myself, and our battles with madness. It raises questions of how much family genetics determine who we are and if it is possible to outsmart one’s own DNA. The film is packed with visual metaphors, surreal images and my twisted sense of humour. It is an animated tale full of art, women, strange daring stories, Latvian accents, history, nature, adventure and more."  - Signe Baumane

 [via Topless Robot]