Telegrams to the tree 

project in development
short animated film
7-minute format

directed by: Julia Benedyktowicz
screenplay: Julia Benedyktowicz
producer: Grzegorz Wacławek
production: Animoon

/ Project description /

Feeling lost, Sofia starts recording documentary voice messages to herself. She discovers childhood memories in which her neurotic grandmother frightened her with tales of cherry seeds sprouting into a tree in her stomach. Strangely enough, this only caused excitement in the little girl. Now she feels something growing inside her: a sensitive and ever-changing wild plant. Its thorny branches constrict her lungs and its roots tighten around her throat. She cannot take a deep breath and her voice stutters. Ashamed of the creature inside, disconnected from others, Sofia discovers that it mirrors her grandmother’s neurosis in an attempt to numb the sensations. The symptoms escalate to an unbearable culmination where Sofia wants to rid herself of the inner tree. Driven by her newfound anger, she wants to burn all its roots. With this first emotion she allows herself to feel, colour appears, signalling the beginning of Sofia’s inner journey to explore a rich range of feelings. Replacing shame and judgement with curiosity and allowing her body to be part of nature, she discovers within herself a vibrant world full of colour and texture. A story of acceptance of one’s inner environment and origins.