Rebirth of Venus [Robin Noorda, Netherlands, 2021]

When poetry collides with imagery, we can get nothing short of a work of art. Rebirth of Venus uses a poem that is striking and combines it with vivid visuals that show a growing process of society’s distorted view of women and nature. Robin Noorda, a clear visual artist, uses stop-motion animation to achieve a piece of short form cinema worth watching by everyone.

Noorda’s poem speaks of oppression and lack of equality, particularly for females, using a calming, monotone female voice to address a range of expressions around oppression being linked women’s rights and the destruction of nature. Noorda reused waste to create his scene and working on a zero budget. He appears inspired by natural ruins, like ones you might find in Rome or Greece, and combines these iconic architectures with more modern structures, such as the Statue of Liberty.

Noorda has clearly spent time researching and, more importantly, listening to female voices. The visual is realistic and the move from underwater up into land is powerful, developing a unique interpretation of evolution. It is calming to watch and captivating to retain, and as we come ashore a range of architecture surrounds us. This blends into four machines using a laser to cast out a female statue into a large block, with a suggestion that women are moulded into what society sees as ‘perfection’. The writing Noorda has produced is carefully structured and poetic. One of the most engaging lines is a point that addresses the world’s use of oil and compares it to the way we have also used females.

To make all these qualities even stronger, the music (written by Alfred Marseilles) creates a relaxing yet engaging score that suits the visuals well, with a quartet of violins opening the underwater sequence, gradually adding heavier instruments as the story becomes more impactful in its message. Paul Godschalk’s sound effects gliding over the score gives the film a strange form of reality, adding meaning to the film’s title.

To use the word ‘impressive’ feels like an understatement. This is a true work of art and an honest, impactful piece of film that Noorda can be proud of. He has provided a visual representation of how the world has taken on women and nature itself, delivering a devastating yet beautiful poetic short film.