Alice Jokela’s Phantom Limb is an experimental short film that immerses the audience in the emotional journey of navigating trauma and the search for autonomy. The short film centers on Violetta (Shay Yu), a young woman who lost her right arm in an electrical shock accident while tagging in an underground railroad with her boyfriend. With her body forever altered, Vi wrestles to build a sense of identity while coping with the emotional impact of her trauma. In an interview with The New Jersey Film Festival, Jokela expressed her intention to create a film focused on female rage and the overt trauma that often goes overlooked or misunderstood because of the internal, invisible nature of pain. This is reflected in the short film, as those around Vi misperceive her emotional scars. Vi’s story emphasizes how internal trauma can be complex for others to recognize, especially when it’s not immediately visible.

From the start, Phantom Limb establishes its emotive tone through its gritty visual style and design choices. Jokela creates a film that examines the connection between visible and hidden wounds through evocative lighting and dreamlike imagery. Further in the interview, Jokela voiced how the tagging and street art culture influenced the short film’s overall aesthetic. Although Jokela chose to limit the direct use of tagging culture to keep a sense of “mystery,” the rebellious, edgy feel of the tagging art in the abandoned underground railroad adds to the themes of isolation and frustration, echoing Vi’s emotional turmoil as she navigates the world around her. During an acid trip, Vi’s reality is distorted with dreamlike flashbacks of the scene of the accident, visually portraying a PTSD attack through hazy imagery. This creative approach helps the audience further understand what Vi is experiencing. Additionally, the dark, muted color palette paints a somber atmosphere that intensifies the emotional weight of Vi’s trauma.

An essential component of propelling the narrative forward is Vi’s relationship with her nameless boyfriend (Gideon Buddenhagen). As the plot unfolds, without missing a beat, the boyfriend fails to grasp the extent of Vi’s trauma. In the process, he further isolates Vi emotionally as he continues to walk on eggshells around her. The audience quickly identifies this separation between his inability to connect with Vi’s pain and her need to be understood. While high on drugs, this disconnection leads to a cinematic moment of violence, where Vi, who believes she can still feel her missing arm, releases the internal pain she has long suppressed. The film explores the blurred lines between emotional and physical trauma, the need to be seen, and the consequences of suppressed rage.

Moreover, Vi’s performance is profoundly moving. Her subtle yet emotive facial expressions allow the audience to empathize with her quickly. Brilliantly achieved, the camerawork captures how Vi’s struggle is not limited to the loss of her physical limb but by the emotional pain that accompanies it. This feeling of being misunderstood is widely recognized. Vi’s experience of pain and frustration resonates with many individuals who internally struggle with grief, trauma, or mental health issues that others cannot visibly see. Likewise, the visual symbolism between the Vi and the railroad plays a crucial role in the film. Through Vi’s exceptional performance, this visual connection represents her emotional journey and search for control. The stunning yet haunting imagery of the railroad as a pathway for Vi symbolizes her attempt to regain her identity and autonomy.

Overall, Phantom Limb is an utterly potent experience that delves into the intricacies of trauma, emotional isolation, and female rage. It captures Vi’s journey through captivating visuals and creative storytelling, leaving the audience with a lasting and thought-provoking reflection on the complexities of human trauma and pain.

Phantom Limb screens at the New Jersey Film Festival on Saturday, February 1st as part of Shorts Program #2.  These films will be available online for 24 hours on this show date as well as in-person at 7pm in Voorhees Hall room 105 at Rutgers University (71 Hamilton Street, New Brunswick, NJ). Tickets are available for purchase on the festival website here. Many of the filmmakers will be present at the in-person screening to do a Q+A with the audience.

The 43rd Bi-Annual New Jersey Film Festival will be taking place on select Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays between January 24-February 21, 2025. The Festival will be a hybrid one as it will be presented online as well as doing in-person screenings at Rutgers University. All the films will be available virtually via Video on Demand for 24 hours on their show date. VoD start times are at 12 Midnight Eastern USA. Each General Admission Ticket or Festival Pass purchased is good for both the virtual and the in-person screenings. Plus, acclaimed singer-songwriter Renee Maskin will be doing an audio-visual concert on Friday, February 21 at 7PM! The in-person screenings and the Renee Maskin concert will be held in Voorhees Hall #105/Rutgers University, 71 Hamilton Street, New Brunswick, NJ beginning at 5PM or 7PM on their show date. General Admission Ticket=$15 Per Program; Festival All Access Pass=$100; In-Person Only Student Ticket=$10 Per Program. 

For more info go here: https://newjerseyfilmfestivalspring2025.eventive.org/welcome