Into Molds

Film Essay on the struggle of fitting in with western capitalist society.

Logline: Individuals feel at conflict with society, resulting in the feeling of not being able to fully be themselves. This experimental documentary researches the root of the relationship with society three of these individuals have.

Synopsis:

In the society we live, certain norms and values push individuals in specific directions. We recognize that many people experience the feeling of identity loss and disconnection with themselves. People cannot be themselves because they have to fit in the molds society forces on them.

Each of us go to investigate the root of our feelings as we all come from diverse backgrounds. The compliant Rijk visits the environment he grew up in, in the richest village in the Netherlands. Nandi, who grew up in the collective culture of Tanzania, now lives in the individual society of the Netherlands. Renee tries to remove herself from society. Connected to nature, dematerialized and disconnected she researches her feelings of being paralyzed when she is part of society.

In our own relationships to society we see a bigger problem reflected: we can’t be ourselves. We hope to create awareness by making the public think about a dysfunctioning society in which no one can be themselves. We ask the public: Who are you outside the molds?

Group project

Nandi Rieks took part in editing, filming, producing and directing (2021). She helped arrange and conduct the interviews and worked on the concept development of the film.

Edited in Adobe Premiere Pro.