SYNOPSIS

Amid catastrophic loss and a broken world, a young survivor struggles to cope, until a chance encounter with a familiar face reignites her will to go on.

DIRECTOR’S BIO ~ NickBolton, Thirroul, NSW

Nick is drawn to emotional stories with impact, that stir the soul, that shake the heart, that rattle the brain. Stories that highlight the human condition. Stories with the power to change. Usually set in the present day, Nick aims to present humanity in its rawest purest form and is fascinated by our emotions and what drives them.

He has worked on projects that cover mental health, domestic violence, image based abuse, toxic masculinity, the death penalty, and worked on many projects in the disability sector. Nick has a particular strength in dealing with sensitive issues and difficult emotional topics with lightness and grace.

DIRECTOR STATEMENT

Whilst writing this statement, I was actually recovering from a nasty dose of Covid. Being quarantined in our spare room for nearly two weeks made me appreciate the care I needed from my wife. I craved for human interaction. As a freelancer, the revenue hit hurt. My life was on hold. In limbo.



Getting doctors appointments and medical attention was time consuming and laborious, albeit free, and how grateful I am to live in Australia. But still, there is a feeling of being governed. Of being a number not a name. Of being dependent on a system. 

Another interesting reflection of being quarantined was the effect it had on my brain. Covid gave me brain fog but moreso, the lack of interaction definitely played with my brain. I wasn’t delirious but I can imagine people going delirious and crazy in a world that is starved of community and communion. 



It's this alienation and isolation that we examine in LudoVic. Five year after the virus wipes out 90% of the population, we meet Ludo and Dash.

At 18 years old, still children really, alone in a delirious crazy world, Ludo and Dash have no choice but to be street smart and hustle to survive. In their encounters in this dystopian, dreary, bleached, ugly, battered run down world, we see them come up against an assorted range of characters all odd in their own way. 


Like all good short films, there is a twist. Infact there are two.



We see them navigate this world though risky schemes, through being monitored and via of security cameras and drones, and through their risk of going through the no-go zone. They return to the caravan, their home and metaphorically is a warm embrace, a giant hug, a comfort blanket. 

My heartfelt thanks to Vic for writing such a tender script.

To the crew, who I hope enjoyed filming at the disused colliery as much as I did, and the post team for working their magic.

To the cast, thank you and in particular Sebastian and Tobie. You were a joy to direct.

I hope the film makes you think about ourselves, our world, our relationships and our survival.