Petra's Poem

In this visually compelling short, Toronto artist Petra Tolley performs her soliloquy about what it feels like to be “in the middle.” Petra has Down syndrome, and draws from her emotional experiences to produce a distinctive take on the social self. But Petra is not alone—a group of adults with Down syndrome use performance to explore the dynamics of seclusion, societal expectations and social support. Director Shira Avni employs rotoscopy, hand-drawn animation techniques and subtle stereoscopic 3D, capturing Petra as she engages the camera with unflinching directness, heightening our sense of intimacy, alienation, bonding, and ultimately, dignity.