The two-faced debutante

Produced by Animate Projects, The Debutante was inspired by a short story of the same name by the British surrealist artist Leonora Carrington. 

Set in the English high society of the 1930s, it recounts strange story of a young woman who conspires with a frightfully mischievous creature she’s befriended at her frequent visits to the zoo – a hyena. 

The pair come up with a rather gruesome plan for hyena to take the debutante’s place at her own ‘coming out’ dinner dance.

The narrative is driven by a surreal soundscape by Fonic, including sound design by Rory Hunter, a jaunty, scratchy score by Hutch Demouilpied and foley from Sue Harding, who commented: “Elizabeth’s film, although short, required a long list of sound effects. From the swish of a 1930’s ball gown, the sound of a hyena’s paws dancing in high heels to the sound of crystal glasses being smashed.”