An animated film about a larger than life, middle aged heroine called Beryl will join Casino Royale and The Queen at this year’s British Academy Film Awards.
Family Ties – Dreams and Desires, a ten-minute film by twice Oscar-nominated Joanna Quinn, has been nominated for an award in the short animation film category.
A co-production between S4C and Joanna’s company, Beryl Productions International, the hand-drawn animation has already won a raft of awards, including the prestigious Cartoon D’Or. It has also qualified for the first stages of the Oscars.
This is the third S4C film to feature Beryl, a frustrated yet optimistic wife and mother who is intent on embracing change, now that her grown-up children have flown the nest.
Beryl, who has recently been given a Digivideocam, attends the wedding of a family friend in the film, to record the event for posterity. Things go horribly wrong, however, when Beryl’s cinematic enthusiasm and video diaristic approach clash with the expectations of the wedding party.
Joanna Quinn said, “I’m absolutely chuffed that Beryl has re-emerged on the scene as a symbol of enthusiasm and good humour to inspire everybody to have a second crack at doing the things that they really want to do in life. To quote Beryl...‘Passion – you gotta have it!’ Viva Beryl!”
Les Mills, who wrote the script and produced the film, added, “It’s fantastic to be involved in originating a genuine and enduring anti-heroine figure created and produced totally in Wales but being universally accessible. Winning a Bafta would be the icing on the cake for our team and of course Joanna might even get a glimpse of Brad Pitt at the do!”
S4C’s Head of Content, Meirion Davies, who commissioned the film, says, “Joanna’s animations combine a distinctive visual style with sophisticated storylines, earthy humour and articulate and sympathetic characters. This latest film is hugely entertaining.”
