Synopsis

A person climbs up a ladder, while another person descends a ladder in reverse. The movements are so deliberate that it’s hard to tell who is truly going up and who is coming down. They meet on the ladder, inevitably intertwine, and when they part, one seemingly continues upward while the other continues downward—but the essential ambiguity remains.

Creators’ Statement: The Illusion of Direction

The film suggests that “up” and “down” are merely perceptions, and in essence, there is no real difference between them.

We wanted to visually capture the futility and absurdity of the situations we get caught in during competitions—where the only goal is to surpass another. Ultimately, the film suggests that neither direction truly leads anywhere, serving as a reflection on the pointlessness of competitive ambition.

Production Insight

The brief duration of UP ON is essential to its conceptual punch. Our hand-drawn, low-tech style gives the ladder a stark, simple quality, allowing the viewer to focus entirely on the confusing and intimate dynamic of the two figures as they exchange positions and perspectives.

UP ON (0:22)

A Short Film on Direction and the Futility of Competition

Genre: Philosophical / Abstract / Metaphor Duration: 0:22