Asleep in the Deep (2005) User Reviews

Artsy but not particularly satisfying

[planktonrules · 4/10 · 16 October 2008]

This short is from the Moviemark DVD Indie Shorts Project Vol. 1 (2006). It's the first on the DVD and is very, very unusual and artsy.

Describing the plot is very, very difficult--especially since this is a film where the plot doesn't seem to be that important--what's important are the artistic qualities of film. It begins with a woman who appears to be homeless or a punk who in many ways looks like a young female version of Klaus Kinski with bright orange hair! Who exactly she is and why she behaves in such an odd fashion really isn't explained. However, she meets a deaf lady who uses real sign language, not gibberish and I found her easy to interpret what she was saying. I was happy the film makers got this right. Then the deaf lady introduces her to a weird violinist who plays haunting music.

What happens next, I won't mention--partly because it was confusing and partly because the film had already lost me a long time ago. I guess I could watch and re-watch the film to look for all the symbolism and meaning, but it never grabbed my attention at all despite decent production values.

Exciting and Beautiful

[CharlesHubbell · 9/10 · 5 November 2006]

I was stunned when I saw this short film by this relatively new director. No spoilers here because the view must see this film without knowing much about it. I was glad to have known little about the film so that I could get immersed in discovering it. While watching it I was reminded of the dark, raw, bleak European films of people like Gaspar Noe and directors like him. However there is a distinct American Lynch flavor to what von Stoetzel does Asleep experiments with philosophical ideas only expressible with dream like images and pacing but the story is cohesive and comprehensible. The acting is superb and the visuals are beautiful. Asleep in the Deep may qualify as experimental but that title doesn't seem to encapsulate the thought, planning and vision that obviously went into this film. Asleep in the Deep is thought provoking, evocative, and a conversation starter. I look forward to seeing more films from Paul von Stoetzel. To quote the film: Never, ever, ever give up!