FILM
Daniel Saul
AnimateTV 2002
2002
Duration: 9'03"
2'04" extract
James is deeply disturbed by the heavy vibrations made by the train carrying nuclear waste past his home. When he runs away from the house and a failing relationship, he enters a surreal dreamscape from which he may never return.
Credits
Director Daniel Saul
Writer James Flint
James Joe Duttine
Director of Photography Simon Starling
Production Designer Sarah Lovett
Live Action Producer Jo Wiser
Music Shane Cullinan
Sound Designer Graeme Miller
Synopses
An animated drama.
James is deeply disturbed by the heavy vibrations made by the train carrying nuclear waste past his home. When he leaves the house he enters a surreal dreamscape from which he may never return.
James and his family live by the railway tracks used to transport nuclear waste through the middle of London. Already disturbed, James begins to feel all his problems are related to the nuclear train and resolves to run away from home. Once outside, he enters a dreamscape city falling apart at the seams. He ends up on the waterfront in a fractured wasteland piled high with rubbish. Full of guilt, James uses junk to make a pair of prosthetic arms for his disabled daughter. But he soon begins to fear that his family may never join him on the scrap heap by the river. The Nuclear Train combines video drama with animation to create a mutated world that reflects our fears about the future. It is perhaps a parable about what we should take with us and what we should leave behind.
Technical information
A digital blend of treated footage, drawn animation and live action characters.
Full credits
Director Daniel Saul
Writer James Flint
James Joe Duttine
Mary Josephine Butler
Martha Michaela Turner
Rever Scott Woods
Security guards Rizwann Butt, James Flint Hari Kunzru & Toby Saul
Director of Photography Simon Starling
Gaffer Mitch Spooner
Production Designer Sarah Lovett
First Assistant Director Polly Nash
Runners Dante Pertusini & John Hockridge
Live Action Producer Jo Wiser
Additional animation Steve May
Music Shane Cullinan
Sound recording John Arnold
Sound Designer Graeme Miller
Thanks to Mariam Imani, Carol Salter
Collaborator
James Flint is author of the acclaimed first novel Habitus, former editor of Wired UK and was joint editor with Zadie Smith of the limited edition magazine Lippes Loop. His novel 52 Ways to Magic America was published by Fourth Estate in 2002. He works extensively as a journalist.