Selkies are sea creatures from Irish and Scandinavian folklore possessing the ability to transform from seals to human beings while on land.

In the modern fantasy short SELKIE, written and directed by filmmaker Amy Frear, one such creature (Katie Stahl) follows a school of herring up the Delaware River. Curious about her new surroundings, the selkie sheds her seal-skin and transforms into a human woman.

When a man (Jordan Mottram) discovers her seal-skin on the shore, he steals it, trapping her in her human guise.

She then becomes his reluctant girlfriend.

Although the selkie appears human, she is not. She tries to sublimate her true nature in an attempt to conform with human society.

Stifled and lonely, she seeks any opportunity to regain her freedom and return to the sea.

SELKIE is a beautifully shot and well-acted narrative metaphor for the soul-crushing effect of being involved in an unhealthy relationship.

What also makes this short film remarkable is that it relays the emotional beats of the story without a word of dialogue spoken - except for the fisherman’s opening monologue.

The actors - especially Stahl as the titular sea creature - masterfully use body language and facial expressions to convey subtle as well as intense emotional states such as quiet desperation and the sheer exhilaration of freedom gained.

Watch SELKIE here…

A wayward selkie (a seal that can turn itself into a human) has followed a school of herring up the Delaware river when her seal skin is captured by a man from the Fishtown neighborhood of Philadelphia. A story about the people that wash in and out of lives. Starring Katie Stahl, Jordan Mottram, and Gerardo Salazar Borja Written and Directed by Amy Frear Director of Photography Shawna Annable Music by Matthew Kay and Patrick Mangan Edited by Shawna Annable 2nd Camera by Tayarisha Poe Sound Mixing by Sean Hamilton Sound Editing by Matthew Kay www.amyfrear.com Director's Note: A “selkie” is a seal that can shed its skin and take a human form. Often in Irish and Scottish mythology, selkies are coerced into relationships with humans when someone steals and hides their seal skin. I decided to set the selkie story in the riverward Fishtown section of Philadelphia due to the neighborhood’s working class Irish history and the occasional marine mammal that wanders down the Delaware river from the ocean. Most of all, I wanted to tell a story about the end of an unhealthy relationship. In SELKIE, a relationship is keeping our title character in a place where she can’t be herself. No dialogue is used in the film besides the fisherman’s tale in the introduction. It was very important for me to show the silent moments in which we struggle to connect.

Ultimately, SELKIE is a poignant and elegant fantasy short about the vital importance of maintaining our personal freedom and sense of self throughout the ebbs and flows.of the many relationships we experience in life.

Experience our official podcast Eye On Sci-Fi. Join host and The 7th Matrix founder Rod T. Faulkner as he spotlights terrific indie SFF short films and web series.

We are proud of the fact The 7th Matrix has been operating AD-FREE since its inception in 2013. Please help us continue. Thank you!

We also accept donations via Bitcoin using this address:

1EdGZQu1hcpzTYiTzoBD66bFC6ubH1pVL1