Written by Rachael Crawley

The World of Movies is a series that explores global cinema, drawing on films from many countries, industries and eras. This week, we follow a family’s story in Latvia.

May contain spoilers.

Content warning: This film contains depictions of mental health conditions, self-harm and suicide.

First of all – this movie can be incredibly difficult to watch, and I would not recommend it to people who may struggle with its content. It is a frank depiction of mental health disorders and their complications. Personally, there were moments where I had to pause and walk away. Going into the movie, just keep in mind that it may be a painful experience.

That said, the end result is a beautiful piece of art. It can be very, very dark and very, very funny, sometimes in the same moment. It is visually inventive and well-paced. Rocks in My Pockets (2014) is a blistering take on the filmmaker’s ancestors, a deep dive into the histories of several real people – and director Signe Baumane does not hold back. As part of the film’s context, she frequently alludes to the story of Latvia, since the story covers most of the tumultuous twentieth century. Though she takes time for interesting asides, her focus remains clear and cohesive throughout.

Part of the movie’s deeply personal feel comes from Baumane’s all-encompassing presence. She narrates the piece herself – the production was recorded in both English and Latvian. Her acerbic humour manages to counterbalance the intense subject matter, and her writing frequently draws on evocative imagery. The film follows a trajectory beginning with Baumane’s grandmother in the 1920s. Baumane draws a line through her grandmother’s tragic story to several of her cousins, and finally herself. Each of the five women has dealt with mental health issues. However, Baumane develops them far beyond this common thread, aided by her own memories. They are fully realized as characters, fleshed out with funny and moving anecdotes. The movie slides further away from its humorous tone in the second half, but there remains an ironic undercurrent, even at its most painful moments.

Baumane uses a combination of stop-motion and traditional animation (with what appears to be a wide range of mixed materials). The result is playful, quirky and sometimes grotesque. I was particularly taken with Bauman’s ability to add whole stories to segments of a frame, be they clever jokes or even an entire arc, happening just away from the action. She excels at creating characters who resemble each other, and matching them within a single image - while giving them distinctive characteristics. Considering that this movie deals frequently with the dark side of life, she also uses shadow to great effect. The film makes use of abstract backgrounds and inventive staging, particularly a segment involving a conveyor belt, which I am quite certain I will never forget. Combined with an excellent score, the movie is an aesthetic success across the board.

Rocks in My Pockets is a nuanced take on a painful topic, and it handles widely varying tones with impressive ease. It will resonate with many viewers. While the story is told seriously, Baumane shows us a world of humour as well. She portrays her family members with affection and honesty. There are moments of enormous sadness, but the movie contains the full range of human feeling – and Baumane is unafraid to cover its entire scope.

Rachael Crawley holds a Master's Degree in Film and Photography Preservation and Collections Management from Ryerson University, and has worked with film in Canada and in Europe. She adores language and cinema, and how these subjects interact with each other.

The World of Movies: Rocks in My Pockets

Written by Rachael Crawley