RETARDATION is the second short film in the Male Nature Studies series. The first film, REBIRTH, was produced in 2018. In these films, Nils Agdler examines alternative approaches to what is popularly called ”toxic masculinity”. In today's society, it has a great impact as a negative male role model, which could be expressed as a desire to constantly compete against and to dominate, both other people and more-than-humans.
RETARDATION takes its starting point in the emerging research field "Ecological masculinities", which is influenced by masculinities politics, deep ecology, ecological feminism and feminist care theory. ”The Great Acceleration” gained momentum in the 1950s with the Western man at the wheel. The growth curves turned sharply upwards and so did, and still do, the human impact on the biosphere. But what if this man begins to see himself as a small part of nature instead of striving to "conquer" it? What if he abandons the pursuit of status and the ever-expanding claims to power? What if he slows down and throws his paralyzing yoke? Is he still a Man then?
In RETARDATION, Nils Agdler visualizes ideas of another future man – the resigned man, the regressed man, the liberated man, and possibly – the last man.
PRODUCTION
Producer: Nils Agdler
Writer: Nils Agdler
Director: Nils Agdler
Cast: Nils Agdler
Cinematographer: Nils Agdler
Editor: Nils Agdler
Sound recording: Nils Agdler & Martin Ekman
Sound design: Martin Ekman
Production assistant: Marianne Agdler
Length: 4:45 min
Format: UHD 2160p/HD 1080p
Release: World Premiere at Defy Film Festival Nashville, USA
FESTIVAL SELECTION
August 19, 2022, World Premiere, Defy Film Festival Nashville, USA
December 10, 2022, Shockfest Film Festival, Los Angeles, USA
December 29, 2022, Best Experimental Short, New York Tri-State International Film Festival, USA
January 27, 2023, Martinique International Film Festival, Martinique
February 3, 2023, Toronto Indie Filmmakers Festival, Canada
March 2, 2023, Best No-dialogue Film, Japan International Film Festival, Japan
June 1, 2023, Sydney World Film Festival, Australia
July 4, 2023, Boston Short Film Festival, USA
August 13, 2023, Venice film Week, Italy
September 25, 2023, Obskuur Ghent Film Festival, Belgium
PRESS COVERAGE
Lonely Wolf International Film Festival, London, Review by Adrian Peres
DISTRIBUTION
FILMFORM - The Art Film & Video Archive, Stockholm, Sweden
