animate!

*Half Life* title card. A misaligned Super 8mm splice creates a sandwich of dust around the celluloid, partially obscuring the cold winter sunshine (North Wales)

Rush hour traffic, Warsaw

Traffic speeds eastwards from the Plac Konstytucji, Warsaw

A Warsaw office block

Mr Budzik deals with his paperwork, seemingly finalising a deal on a Fleischermachinenfabrik (Meat Processing Machine Factory)

Mr Marker (Nick Currey) generates data for his hand-cranked computer (designed by Tadhg O&amp;#8217;Sullivan &amp;amp; Guy Bishop)

Depleted by routine, he rubs at his permanently sealed eyes

He dreams in colour

He dreams of light

Mr Marker screams pointlessly in frustration

Back to work

Somewhere, elsewhere, outside (in this shot &amp;#8211; Berlin), trains pass by

Ms Szminka  (Fiona Staniland) collates and files Mr Marker&amp;#8217;s data

Ms Szminka  collates and files Mr Marker&amp;#8217;s data

She has precise legs and impressive shoes

A log is kept of her activity using the latest in self-adhesive technology

Ms Szminka checks up on her little secret

She has been cultivating a colourful little allotment in the filing cabinet

But Half Lives get no breaks

Mr Budzik (Mark Bishop) winds up a worker

Day and night and day and night &amp;#8211; moonlight by Lucy Brown

Trains pass, just like moods

Rather important looking office block, Warsaw

Fraulein Stromkreis (Sarah Beauvoisin) focuses on the power supply

Fraulein Stromkreis focuses on the power supply

She triggers a flash vision of Mr Pineska (Samuel Dore)

In a moment of passion / panic Fraulein Stromkreis triggers an alarm

Mr Marker stands to attention as a military parade passes by

Ms Szminka freezes

Mr Pineska stands fervently to attention

Mr Budzik gives a furtive little glance as if to say &amp;#8220;we know you&amp;#8217;re out there&amp;#8221;

The booming fallout scours the barren landscape (North Wales)

Mr Pineska is wound back up and put to work, transporting data

The cold moon penetrates the prefabricated office block then envelopes it in night

Ms Szminka scratches at the rash of information