
If you really think about it, the grief that comes with losing a loved one is more about us than it is for the one who passed. In Moe Najati and Fabrizio Faillace’s sci-fi short film Ensouled, Clara (Joanna Saul) is a grieving widow who is lost in life and taking extreme measures to reconnect with her late husband. Her solution is to enter the facilities of the Eternia company, where she can “adopt an afterlife” and be with her husband for all of eternity.
Considering its metaphysical nature, Ensouled exudes a strong science-fiction vibe about medical-assisted suicide. Director Najati builds an impressive futuristic complex for Eternia from almost nothing and then flings us back to the 1970s with its cold, neon, minimalistic appearance.

“…a grieving widow who is lost in life and taking extreme measures to reconnect with her late husband.”
The sci-fi elements unexpectedly heighten the impact of death while making the theme more approachable. I empathized with Clara’s state and felt I would have reacted differently if it had been a modern tale. The power of science fiction is its ability to make us confront an issue by stripping everything away except the issue at hand.
Though I don’t agree with Ensouled‘s overarching theme, as a film, I did think about its story and wrestle with its questions. Kudos to Moe Najati and Fabrizio Faillace. That’s why we make short films.

"…The power of science fiction is its ability to make us confront an issue by stripping everything away except the issue at hand."