When depressed cook HaHa chases a runaway dumpling, she finds a parallel world. Inspired by an Japanese fairy tale.
This unknown fact is what Jung calls the Self, which is the psychic totality of an individual….Different fairy tales give average pictures of different phases of (this psychic reality).
–The Interpretation of Fairy Tales by Marie Louise Von Franz.
This fairy tale film inspired by Marie Louise Von Franz is made as part of my gratitude to her and her work.
So excited and humbled by this fantastic depth-psychology analysis of “Dumpling.” Thank you Dr. Joanna Gardner for this article!
“The descent into the depths always seems to precede the ascent.”
Carl Jung
“The Bushmen in the Kalahari Desert talk about the two “hungers”. There is the Great Hunger and there is the Little Hunger. The Little Hunger wants food for the belly; but the Great Hunger, the greatest hunger of all, is the hunger for meaning…
There is ultimately only one thing that makes human beings deeply and profoundly bitter, and that is to have thrust upon them a life without meaning.
There is nothing wrong in searching for happiness. But of far more comfort to the soul is something greater than happiness or unhappiness, and that is meaning. Because meaning transfigures all. Once what you are doing has for you meaning, it is irrelevant whether you’re happy or unhappy. You are content – you are not alone in your Spirit – you belong.”
Laurens van der Post
See more of Laura’s films here!
This is inspiring
This is the reality, A life without meaning is a bitter one
Thank you for your comment. I appreciate your thoughts.
She looks like Baba Yaga at the end! Really fun and thoughtful film. I love your work. Thank you for sharing this.
Yes! I wasn’t even aware of the connection to Baba Yaga when I was making the film but you’re right. There is a similarity there. This is from a different culture but the cauldron is a returning symbol. Thank you for your comment!
The tablecloth has circles in it. The little details are fascinating. Not sure about the ending but I will think about it.
Glad that you noticed that! I have fun putting little symbolic “Easter Eggs” in these films. The spiral-y table cloth did have a meaning for me. I’ll be curious what you come up with about the ending! Thank you for your comment.
I like how she doped her demon dumpling eaters. A true fairy tale!
Yes! Reminds me to put my own inner demons to sleep sometimes!