Marabou Feathers

A performing clown attends two functions on the same day, and she has a different experience at each of the events. ‘Marabou Feathers’ starts with our protagonist setting out for the first event in her street clothes minus the clown costume and makeup. But at first, she has to clear the air about the time and the venue of the event. Next, she drives down to the second event for the day to attend a function in memory of Brenda, an old friend. Here we see her in character, as the clown, reminiscing about her lost friend. But even during this difficult situation, the clown in her does not even for a brief moment, slip out of character.

‘Marabou Feathers’ is a narrative short from Writer, Director Tracy Ann Chapel. Tracy, an accomplished actor and a dancer, who carries the film independently on her shoulders as the primary performer. The essence of ‘Marabou Feathers’ comes across as an ode to a dear friend who has played a very influential role in one’s life going as far as shaping one’s destiny with wise counsel that has brought about many changes for the better. With minimal use of dialogues and an effective edit pattern, the film conveys the writer’s thoughts without any loss in translation.

Like the feathers of the unglamorous Marabou that go into the making some of the most glamorous accessories on the world fashion scene, the film too is the coming together of various unglamorous and unpolished part to create the beautiful whole.