I Sea

You can’t step into the same… sea water twice. I SEA, directed by award-winning Polish filmmaker Karolina Specht, is an experimental animated film balancing between abstraction and narration – a delicate visual composition portraying life at the intersection of sea and land. Through the rhythm of shapes and colors emerges a story of a human and a fish, constantly shifting roles between predator and prey. The film is an authorial reflection on the transience of life and the unpredictability of fate, while also further developing the director’s distinctive visual language and artistic style.

Director’s statement
I SEA is a visually playful and philosophical animated short about a man and a fish whose roles constantly shift and mirror one another. Through abstract imagery and a non-linear narrative, I attempt to speak about the fluidity of life, the unpredictability of fate, and the human need to search for meaning within chaos.

I SEA is a formal experiment, driven by my deep fascination with how abstraction can touch the essence of things. The entire animation is based on one looped sequence and its constant reinterpretation using color, shapes and rhythm. The title plays on the words “I see” and “sea,” reflecting both the marine setting and the film’s nature as a visual puzzle. I want this film to be an active cinematic experience, where the viewer can satisfyingly follow the clues and uncover the story hidden within the mosaic.

I believe making this film is a step forward in exploring what interests me most in cinema – pushing the boundaries between abstract form and narrative.