A moving encounter
Mona is a sunny, charismatic young musician who’s a bit of a mess. Max, on the other hand, is a reserved draughtswoman, locked away in her world and her silence. Everything pits them against each other, until the morning when their paths cross.
Over the course of a day punctuated by music, Mona imbues Max with her energy, her passion and her conviction that an artist does not have to be solitary to be authentic. But something unexpected will push Max to find the strength to get out of his bubble, to finally share his art and face the world.
A film about life
Although the film evokes a collective trauma, Max refuses to go under. As Lita Dupau points out, this is not a sad film, but one about vitality: “How do you deal with violent trauma and not lose your zest for life?
The answer lies in creativity, music and openness to others. Through Max, the viewer discovers that it is possible to transform pain into new, life-giving energy.
A bold and musical production
A dramatic musical comedy, the film draws on multiple influences. From Bob Fosse to Edgar Wright, Jonathan Larson to Lin-Manuel Miranda, Mona boasts rhythmic writing, powerful choreography and a narrative freedom that is rare in short films.
The mise-en-scène is based on a strong rupture: a luminous first part, with warm, autumnal colours, reflecting Mona’s personality; then a second part marked by colder tones, where Max tries to rebuild his life.
The musical sequences, inspired by the energy ofIn The Heights or the flamboyant rock of Elton John and the Talking Heads, offer viewers a sensory experience that is both festive and moving.
A modern and universal story
By focusing on a female relationship, Mona enriches her story with a sensitivity that is both accurate and resolutely contemporary. This complicity, tinged with seduction, gives the story an intimate and universal dimension: that of a budding love, broken too soon but carrying a powerful legacy.
Hope as the final note
Max’s last dance, clumsy but liberating, sums up the essence of the film: Letting in the light, even in pain. To rediscover a carefree spirit, a fragile but real joy. With Mona, Lita Dupau gives us a generous, sensitive and audacious work that resonates far beyond its short format. A film that reminds us that every encounter can be a spark, a breath of life.