Christopher at Sea by Tom CJ Brown (Film Review)
Heteronormativity is always assumed and rarely questioned. In the piercingly sharp queer animation short, 'Christopher at Sea' by Tom CJ Brown (t.o.m, Teeth) queer desire is introduced -first as a curiosity, then as a possibility, and as a tragedy.
The film, which premiered at the 2022 Venice Festival, has young Christopher embarking on a transatlantic voyage from France to the US on the cargo ship CHH La Traviata. Getting familiar with hypermasculinity (suggestive female pics on the cargo officers' computers, personal questions asked by the ship's waiter about wife, kids and married life), he soon experiences quite the opposite result.
In a visual world where solid bodies are covered with steamy exhaustions, cigarette smokes leading directly into the ever-changing seascape, Christoper finds male desire and love and, at the same time, the need to know that this love may not be reciprocated (or given elsewhere).
The film resists easy visual transformations (but has a stressful running sequence, in which Christopher's facial characteristics reveal deformity); yet, it's not interested in letting the audience see the desire. It is more potent if they can sense it by all other means, within the closet that the main character chose to be.
Tom CJ Brown frames his external cargo ship shots, like he's filming from the outside, never-ending rectangular closets. The atmosphere is different inside (a room for fantasy); the color palette, on the other hand, is like a flashlight that always surprises and never lets the main character breathe. In an environment that is constantly changing, he needs to discover -or simply get back to carte postale heteronormative relationship.
Schubert's quiet 'Die schöne Müllerin' contrasts with the unnerving music by Biran McComber and Judith Berkson. The final result is not so much another expression of queer desire; 'Christopher at Sea' tells you more of the old-fashioned pathos that all erotic desires follow (especially desires that do not dare speak their name).
Watch 'Christopher at Sea' (mature audiences)
The film is produced by MIYU Productions, Temple Carrington & Brown and Psyop. It had a roller-coaster of festival appearances -including SXSW 2023 (Special Jury Award for Animation Directing), Outfest LA 2023 (Jury Special Mention), and BIAF 2022 (Special Distinction).
Want to read more free articles like this?
Keep this professional animation journalism effort relevant and updated. Become our patron
