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# REVIEW: Daffodil – a streamed science fiction experience
- URL: https://www.scenemag.co.uk/review-daffodil-a-streamed-science-fiction-experience/
- Published: 2020-11-01T11:11:42.000Z
- Updated: 2020-11-01T08:45:15.000Z
- Description: Brian Butler is mesmerised by Anil Sebastian’s beautiful film creation
- Author: Brian Butler
- Tags: Arts, LGBTQ Choirs, Music, Reviews

[![](https://www.scenemag.co.uk/content/images/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/daffodil-ep-cover600.jpg)](https://www.scenemag.co.uk/home/)

Non-binary multi-disciplinary artist **Anil Sebastian’**s debut film is a wonderfully designed exploration of artificial intelligence, gender and identity that is a joy to watch and listen to.

Anil not only wrote the script and devised the musical soundtrack but also produces a solo performance as a rogue scientist determined to recreate a dead child from video memories.

[![](https://www.scenemag.co.uk/content/images/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/birth-chambers600.png)](https://www.scenemag.co.uk/home/)

Huge glass tubes at a secret scientific establishment have swirling blood-red substances within them, and this is just one of many special effects created alongside Thomas Rawle’s vivid and magnetic animation.

Cleverly inter-cut with home movies of Anil as a child, Daffodil is both a controversial guesstimate of our future but also a touching attempt to capture lost previous moments.

When the AI creation Ingmar comes to life, it is a Dali-esque globular figure floating in millions of highly-coloured particles. The other-worldliness is accentuated by the beautiful choral harmonies of the London contemporary voices choir.

[![](https://www.scenemag.co.uk/content/images/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/anil-sebastian-1-photo-by-ethan-sheppard-clothes-by-berthold600.png)](https://www.scenemag.co.uk/home/)

When a dialogue window is opened by the scientist Ingmar eventually repeats dialogue from the childhood videos – a spine-tingling moment.

Is it fear of the unknown future or a Frankenstein- like guilt of unauthorised creation that leads the scientist to delete the sentient being ? And will there be another future attempt? Who can say? – but this 20-minute fantasy would be best watched on a large screen and with big speakers. It’s breathtaking.

Directed by Anil and Thiing Studios , Daffodil is available to view on video channel NOWNESS.

[**You can watch it, free, here:**](https://www.nowness.com/series/nowness-experiments/daffodil-anil-sebastian-artificial-intelligence?ref=scenemag.co.uk)

[![](https://www.scenemag.co.uk/content/images/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/daffodil-film-600.png)](https://www.scenemag.co.uk/home/)