Reflective Encounters

“The fear of getting old, the unstoppable flow of time, the search for oneself, social success vs. mental comfort… these are just few of the topics that Tennis Ball on His Day Off tackles in the space of three minutes. Through the personification of an overworked tennis ball, the film – starring international popstar Clairo on voiceover – focus on human anxiety with a cartoonish and colorful atmosphere. 

Director Julian Gandler brings out the inner voices that occupy all of us when we think about work and our place in the world, even in the midst of vacant days. The anxiety of being trapped in a job that ruins your personal space, but also your personality itself, seems to be more acute than ever in a post-pandemic world and within the capitalist structures that have seen our ways of thinking evolve in response to ever-increasing burnout.

Twice, our round and yellow alter-ego is invited to come out of its reverie and stop relaxing in order to consider work as a personal accomplishment, a human value, or even a moment of sweetness for the soul… a discourse that neoliberal societies love. Yet, even when you’re a tennis ball you want to live your  best life, which in this case is experiencing freedom, whether that’s being firmly connected to the ground or lifted vigorously into the air.”

— Florian Fernandez