(2021; 107 min.)
---> ABOVE IMAGE LINKS TO MOVIE <---
"The rarefied world of Alli’s characters points to a more
substantial reality
than the empty-image limbo
the
masses
inhabit. Alli’s vision typically reaches
beyond materiality to
a
timeless,
unrestricted zone forever on hand to inspire
those
of us
out of
step with, or awake to more than, the zeitgeist."
- Observer of Times, Eastern Australia
The Alchemy of Sulphur is a strong work of cinematic art
that
is engaging and accessible. The fact that challenging
work
like this
is being made available to all is revolutionary.
-- Michael Talbot Haynes - filmthreat.com
Click this to watch the Trailer
~ On Reinventing the Romantic ~
Hope is writing a short story for ArtLit magazine. When her boyfriend relationship unravels, she attempts to escape heartbreak by writing herself
into
her story
as
a fictional character
who falls in love with Phineas, the
story's
central character. As her narative develops, her romantic literary projections begin to unexpectedly trigger a series of real world encounters catalyzing a shocking spiritual awakening. "The Alchemy of Sulphur" explores the creative writing process as a means of transforming trauma into art through an insurrection of the Poetic Imagination.
Helia Rasti as "Hope"
Hope is a dedicated writer on a deadline to finish a short
fiction story for ArtLit,
a prestigious
NYC literary
magazine,
Benjamin Ervin as "Ben"
Ben accuses Hope of manufacturing crises in
their relationship
to spur her creativity as he struggles to break up with her.
Helia Rasti as "Helen"
Hope's alter ego in the story she
is writing,
the child-like
Helen
is
an
amateur
birder and mythologist who falls in love
with
Phineas,
the central
character in her story
Douglas Allen as "Phineas"
A figment of Hope's imagination, Phineas is a quiet
dendrologist,
a scholar of trees,
on a mission to save a large grove of
dying oaks.
Douglas Allen as "Keith"
Keith is an avant garde performer passing through town
when
he encounters Hope and is
intrigued
by
her
wild imagination,
Cynthia Schwell as "Calliope"
A socially primitive elder woman
with strange chanting powers
who
encounters Hope while gathering psychoactive plants in the forest.
Sylvi Alli as "Callista"
Callista is
part
of an occult
sisterhood with
Calliope who
believes
Hope
may
be another seer amongst them.
The Crew & Credits, Reviews & Responses, Stills,
Vision Statement, Filmography, the DVD, I.M.Db, Contact
Calliope (Cynthia Schwell) comforts Hope (Helia Rasti)
~ Crew & Credits ~
Benjamin Ervin, Production Assistance.
Wardrobe, props, and audio recording by Sylvi Alli.
Music by Frederic Chopin, Erik Satie, Sylvi Alli, and others.
Written, directed, cinematography, and editing by Antero Alli
A non-Union, non-commercial film produced by Vertical Pool.
Film Reviews and Audience Responses
"Reinventing the Romantic" -- Vision statement
Stills from the film and Filmography
Purchase the DVD
CONTACT
verticalsource@gmail.com