animate!

Films : The Nuclear Train : all

animate! synopsis

An animated drama. 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.

one sentence synopsis

An animated drama.

short synopsis

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.

long synopsis

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.

key credits

director: Daniel Saul
writer: James Flint
director of photography: Simon Starling
production designer: Sarah Lovett
live-action producer: Jo Wiser
music: Shane Cullinan
sound designer: Graeme Miller

Daniel Saul

short biography

Daniel studied Fine Art at Nottingham Trent University. He is a versatile filmmaker; he worked with Century Films on Channel 4’s film of the official Millennium Poem and his animated experimental documentary The Morris Jelly House of Fashion was an international festival hit.

Amongst his community-based works is a half-hour film for MENCAP about professional artists with learning difficulties.

October 2002

James Flint

short biography

James 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 recent novel 52 Ways to Magic America was published by Fourth Estate in July 2002. He works extensively as a journalist.

November 2002