By Tim Collins

A filmmaker and journalist, Arnold Lim has already secured his place as a man whoB次元官网网址檚 made a lasting impact on the Canadian film industry.

His list of accomplishments is long and impressive. For example, his short film My Name is Arnold, played at the Vancouver Asian Film Festival in Vancouver and won the audience awards for Best Overall Short Film and Best Performance. The same film earned a Canada Council for the Arts Grant ($35,000) and B.C. Arts Council Media Arts Grant ($25,000).

But itB次元官网网址檚 his latest project that has people talking.

Obscura is the story of a young man, Kay, who has withdrawn from the world and become what is known as a hikikomori. The syndrome B次元官网网址� the name of which also refers to the recluses themselves B次元官网网址� is a form of severe social withdrawal in which (generally) young men become hermits in their parentsB次元官网网址� home B次元官网网址� never venturing out of their rooms to work or school.

B次元官网网址淚n a way, itB次元官网网址檚 a reflection of a theme that IB次元官网网址檝e been exploring for some time now. It involves understanding the barriers that we put up to protect ourselves. TheyB次元官网网址檙e barriers that prevent us from seeing and experiencing others,B次元官网网址� said Lim. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 something that IB次元官网网址檝e discovered within myself and, for whatever reason, itB次元官网网址檚 something that I can reflect best in film.B次元官网网址�

LimB次元官网网址檚 understanding of how society deals with mental health issues is rooted in his own youth, growing up as a Korean-Canadian child in the small mountain town of Blue River, B.C.

B次元官网网址淭here were times when I chose to be alone, and I can still recall the feelings of isolation from that time.B次元官网网址�

In LimB次元官网网址檚 telling of the tale in Obscura, the main character has locked himself away, but has turned his room into a camera obscura as a conduit to the outside world. For those unfamiliar with the term, a camera obscura is a darkened room with a small hole or lens at one side through which an image is projected onto a wall or table opposite the hole.

But when the power goes out and that link is lost, the story takes a turn.

ItB次元官网网址檚 an idea that Lim explained was first conceived by his co-writer Claire Mulligan.

B次元官网网址淪heB次元官网网址檚 an amazing talent and I couldnB次元官网网址檛 have made this film without her genius and the work of the passionate group of artists and crew. Everyone involved in the film put their own mark on the final work.B次元官网网址�

Mulligan is similarly quick to credit Lim and the others who worked on the film.

B次元官网网址淢y original idea was a sort of Sci-Fi concept. And IB次元官网网址檇 involved too many characters and had an ending that was a bit too B次元官网网址楶ollyannaB次元官网网址� in approach,B次元官网网址� said Mulligan. B次元官网网址淚t was Arnold that came up with the filmB次元官网网址檚 brilliant ending and we went back and forth a few times to get to it. My approach was too light, and ArnoldB次元官网网址檚 was too dark, but we found this place in the center, and it worked.B次元官网网址�

That collaboration was a critical part of the filmB次元官网网址檚 success.

B次元官网网址淚 come from a short story background but IB次元官网网址檓 not a filmmaker. It was Arnold that kept reminding us that it was a visual storytelling and, with his vision, he made it happen,B次元官网网址� said Mulligan.

The film was created entirely on Vancouver Island B次元官网网址� a process that Lim acknowledges as having its own challenges as some of the resources needed for film production are less abundant here than might be found in Vancouver or other larger urban centers.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檝e had offers to move and live in Vancouver, but my home is here and every film I make is shot here,B次元官网网址� said Lim. B次元官网网址淚 want to help expose our film community and help them get the credit that they deserve. We have so much talent B次元官网网址� world-class talent B次元官网网址� on Vancouver Island and they deserve to be recognized.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淲hen you have an artist making a painting, itB次元官网网址檚 their brushstrokes that create the art. In film, itB次元官网网址檚 literally the brushstrokes of hundreds of people contributing to put their mark on the film,B次元官网网址� Lim said. B次元官网网址淭hatB次元官网网址檚 what has made my work possible. The talented people who have buoyed me up and made these projects their own.B次元官网网址�

Obscura has been nominated for excellence in Program, Direction, Screenwriting, Cinematography, Picture Editing, Sound, Musical Score, Production Design and Performance at the 2024 Leo Awards in the short drama category. The award ceremonies take place July 6 & 7 at the Hyatt Regency Vancouver, B.C.