Generatio (2005)

 Animators Unearthed: 'Generatio' by Mait Laas

Generatio is actually a complex, visually dazzling allegory about history, culture, freedom and the cycles of life. While Laas innovative use of mixed-media techniques is a refreshing blast of fresh air on the Estonian animation landscape, his philosophical and ecological concerns follow in the footsteps of his predecessors, notably Estonian animators Heino Pars and Mati Kutt.

Generatio was made for a German-produced feature film called, Lost and Found. Laas was one of six Eastern European filmmakers invited to contribute to the film. I was invited to a meeting with Nikolaj Nikitin, who is the delegate from Berlinale (the one of the biggest film festivals in Europe), says Laas. At the meeting he asked me if I would be interested in joining the project and doing the animation part of the feature.

Laas was excited by the request and jumped at the opportunity. It was really surprising for me, says Laas, that feature film makers were interested in having animation in their world! Laas was given some guidelines for the project it had to deal with problems between generations in new societies but beyond that he was given almost total creative freedom. The producers and other filmmakers have trusted me, adds Laas, and I had the possibility to do basically what I had written in my script.

From the beginning, Laas wanted to use a mix of animation techniques in Generatio. The idea, says Laas, was to have all the techniques in the film because they also represent the different generations. Also, because Generatio was split up in short segments for Lost and Found, so I felt that it would be smoother technically if I used different styles. Different techniques will build different atmospheres for the viewer. The main idea, though, was to show that even beneath these different forms or clothes, the line in life is the same. I think its important that we recognize and respect how important that is.

While issues of tradition and history lie at the core of Generatio, Laas also addresses complex philosophical and ecological themes. Water plays an essential part of the film. We are made of water. We rely on water to survive. Many philosophers have also suggested that water is the key to harmony in life, that our search for our own rhythm and flow in life is deeply connected with the flow of the rivers. This ecological viewpoint is very important issue as the continuity of the most important values the life in the earth, says Laas.

On yet another level, Laas also explores the relations between masculinity and femininity, creation and destruction, and our desire to bring these cycles of life into harmony. Generatio is filled with a variety of odd characters (men, bees, a cat, matchstick men, a fetus and a naked woman) that seem completely disconnected, yet, in truth, they are all connected, all part of the same stream of life.

What interests Laas is uncovering this mysterious essence that unites and separates us all. Nobody knows, for example, exactly about the soul of the bees and how they know to act collectively, it is not pure ratio, nor is it entirely biological, it is something in between and it is mysterious that is that.
By Chris Robinson.

Animators Unearthed: 'Generatio' by Mait Laas / Animation World Network, http://www.awn.com/animationworld/animators-unearthed-generatio-mait-laas (5.03.2015).