The Global Search for Education: Revealing Narratives: Director Ava Bounds on Victorian Asylums and Human Resilience

Posted By C. M. Rubin on Sep 4, 2023

This month, audiences can screen Beth on the Planet Classroom Network. This film is curated for the Planet Classroom Network by Planet Classroom

Embark on a gripping journey with Beth, a visually captivating short film by director Ava Bounds, in which a woman escapes a Victorian asylum to find home. Audiences will follow her evocative passage filled with twists and turns, as she strives for freedom and reunion with her family.

Ava Bounds, is a writer/director and recipient of the IMDb New Filmmaker 2021 award. Her films have triumphed at prestigious international festivals.

The Global Search for Education is pleased to welcome Director Ava Bounds.

Ava, what inspired you to create Beth and explore the topic of Victorian insane asylums and their patients’ plight?

I was inspired by a book containing medical documents of forgotten patients from a nearby insane asylum. Films often depict these asylums as dreadful prisons, but in reality, they provided shelter and food to struggling individuals. Beth’s story reflected this; she sought to escape the only place that offered her safety. I aimed to share her struggle and story with a wider audience.

The film boasts a visually captivating style. Could you describe the artistic choices that contributed to this immersive experience for viewers?

I collaborated extensively with my incredible DP, Ben Saffer drawing from references like The Assassination of Jesse James and A Field in England. I really wanted to capture Yorkshire’s expansive, untouched landscapes, a prominent feature of my county – which I think we achieved.

The portrayal of the young boy as an illusion in the film adds an intriguing twist. What message or symbolism were you aiming to convey through this narrative element?

The boy symbolises the ‘family’ Beth constantly reaches for in the film. He represents the idealised family she never knew due to her mental illness. Elizabeth Martin never felt at home and perpetually sought her mother.

Despite the character’s hardships, Beth concludes with a sense of hope. What message do you intend for viewers to take away from this film?

My intention is to foster a deeper understanding of “insane asylums” and “schizophrenia.” These themes go beyond mere settings or plot twists as seen in some horror movies. Real people lived these experiences with their stories and aspirations often overlooked. I hope viewers leave with a heightened awareness of the true nature of these concepts.

Thank you Ava!