PLEASE

Through a series of situations, funny, bittersweet, and a little bizarre, Anna Mantzaris paints portraits of the inhabitants of a city and their quest for intimacy, connection, affection, and empathy – something they so desperately lack. Winston, a lonely CEO suffering from imposter syndrome and therefore craving validation from others, ends up finding his place in a free-spirited religious sect. Viktoria, with her clinging partner Pia, discovers a rare fetish that brings them both together when she lets off steam. A priest struggles to keep his cool and starts screaming in the middle of mass. To his surprise, many people join him. Desperate men, mysterious cowboys in the forest, a woman obsessed with dogs, men in suits burst into tears at the supermarket, and Liv, who can't help running away from her dates. Alternating between dark and comforting moments, passing through the absurd and the strange, PLEASE explores the meaning of loving and being loved in today's world.

Director’s statement
I believe that, at our core, we all want to be loved and seen. But even if this is something we all long for, many of us struggle to find it. I’m interested in how we search for love today, what we feel on the inside, what we hold back, and how that clashes with the world around us. In a society shaped by self-improvement and control, we are taught to become our best selves. But to feel pathetic or needy is part of being human. I think there is something beautiful about these slightly “uglier” sides. The puppets in the film express what we often feel inside, but rarely dare to show openly. The film moves from recognisable everyday comedy towards an increasingly desperate and anarchic state, where the need for closeness can no longer be contained. Despite a sometimes dark undertone, I want to bring hope and warmth in a time when the world can feel like a dark place. At its core, it’s about connection, and a hope that we might recognise ourselves in each other.