Category: About the Project

In this interview, Mr. Borji gives us some background about Kurdish people and Kolbaran.

To watch this video, please click on the picture.

A year ago, this time I had no idea what is Stop Motion! In September, while I was thinking and researching for my Final Major Project, I came across the idea of making a film about Kolbaran. However, I knew that I won’t be able to travel to Kurdistan and even if I could, as a student I wasn’t able to make a film in a very dangerous mountain. The alternative option was to make an animation. After a quick research I realised that how much I could connect with stop motion animation.

I always loved art (painting, sculpture, design, architecture and Fashion), I also love storytelling, but more importantly I love filmmaking. In that moment, I strongly believed that this is a real match making in heaven.

Making a decision to work on a stop motion animation short film without any background was a huge step. I knew from day one that I will face lots of obstacles but I was persistent and determine to take the risk and make an experimental film.

9 months later, I still excited about this project. I’m not saying my project is the best ever animation, but what it matters is how much I learned throughout this process. From building a puppet and the set, to lighting and using the software, and more importuning telling a story, directing and animating, all were joyful.

For many people, Kolbar’s live represent the absurdism. Everything is meaningless. Kolbar is identical with Sysyphus. In Greek mythology, Sisyphus was a king who was punished to roll a rock up a hill only for it to roll down when it nears the top, repeating this action for eternity (The Myth of Sysyphus).

However, I strongly believe a Kolbar follows this lifestyle freely. As, Existentialism believes that individuals are entirely free, therefore it emphasises action, freedom and decision as fundamental and holds that the only way to rise above the essentially absurd condition of humanity with is characterised by suffering and inevitable death, is by exercising our freedom and choice and complete rejection of Determinism.

In this plot, despite the fact that the protagonist knows what is waiting a head of her, she willingly becomes a kolbar and takes the same meaningless and absurd journey. Her action, demonstrate the futility of existence.

The message of the film is unclear until the very last seconds, when we see the colourful particles.