COVID-19 has affected a lot about how we live our lives, and how we’ve responded to trauma. Director-Writer Mathilde Suissa’s “Depart” is very effective and carries with it an immense weight, as it ends on a note about the conditions upon which “Depart” was filmed. A subtitle reads in the end that the movie was filmed remotely during COVID-19, allowing pretty much everything we see in “Depart” to have a larger resonance for us.
In the near future, the population has been briefed on evacuation plans, which have been named ‘departures’. The need for the departure plan is a mystery, however, there are strict and precise plans for the evacuation, which has been doled out into sections of the population. Lauren is in the midst of her evacuation, and as she rushes to pack following the departure guidelines, she misplaces her beloved late mother’s necklace. Refusing to leave without it, her desperate search races against time, and she risks being left behind in an unknown future.
Much of what we see in “Depart” is left ambiguous and unexplained. That is absolutely intentional as much of what’s unfolding is supposed to translate to what would be a general evacuation during most significant world events. There isn’t a ton of focus on the why’s so much as on the human element of departing to somewhere. We’re not sure if Lauren is departing to another place beside her home, or to a quarantine zone. Or maybe she’s departing the planet and is at risk of being left behind. We know based on background news reports that people are departing in droves, by last name, are urged to bring their papers along, and are at risk of being left behind.
What happens if she’s left behind is also a key plot point, as she’s urged by her sister over the phone to not miss the departure by any means. Much of “Depart” is centered on Lauren having to pick and choose what is meaningful in her life, and having to leave behind what she knew as mundane. There aren’t a lot of clues as to what the departing is for, but there is the egg in the box, which could symbolize so many things. That’s one drawback to the overall short is that the egg in the box and what it means isn’t made quite clear by writer Suissa, even when the credits close. Is it about rebirth?
Is it an indication of isolation she’s about to experience? Are humans being encouraged to horde animals? While I would have loved a bit more details, “Depart” is a stark and grim tale with a great sense of urgency, and is beautifully directed considering the circumstances it was made during.
CINEJOY featuring CINEQUEST Artists is held from March 1st through March 12th.