LOGLINE

A man who can't feel pain has his character assessed by an examiner who hopes to determine his nature.

SYNOPSIS

Emrys & Elodie is an abstract film set in a period of time that doesn’t exist. The film revolves around an “official interview (or, more accurately, an interrogation) between two characters: Emrys (the interviewee) and Elodie (the interviewer). Throughout the course of the film, Elodie asks Emrys a succession of seemingly random questions concerning his life. As he answers, we regularly see flashbacks as he mentally recalls moments from his past. Many of his flashbacks start to feature Elodie, and it quickly becomes obvious that they are far from strangers. The purpose of the interview is never clear. Nothing is ever explicitly stated, but as the story unfolds, there is a glimmer of her motive: Emrys can feel no pain. As the flashbacks start to show images of Emrys being taken against his will, there is the suggestion of Elodie, undercover, luring him in. A man who can feel no pain can be a powerful weapon as long as the risk of his volatile nature doesn’t outweigh the usefulness of his “gift”.

CAST

Elodie / Emily Butcher

Emrys / Harvey Quinn

CREW

Writer / Director / Felicity Aspden

Producer / Matt Maude

Producer / Shang Salah

Producer / Georgia Charlwood

Executive Producer / Harvey Dormer

Cinematographer / Will Gething

Hair / Makeup Artist / Eszter Hercsik

Costume Designer / Constance Woods

LOCATION AND PRODUCTION DESIGN

We’re fortunate to be filming the majority of the film at Charlton House in Greenwich. The location is beautiful, with marble fireplaces and wood-panelled rooms, and it adds depth to a film with otherwise minimal set dressing. The production design will be incredibly simple due to the fact that it takes place in an empty historical house. What props and set design there is will add to the feeling of an unspecified time period, as well as being incredibly romantic and classical in design.

WHY

Why this story? Emrys & Elodie captures something universal—the feeling of being trapped, whether by time, circumstances, or even our own emotions. In a world that feels increasingly uncertain, many people are grappling with the weight of unfulfilled desires, missed opportunities, and forces beyond their control. Emrys & Elodie taps into that quiet agony—the longing for something just out of reach, the struggle between passion and duty, the ache of wanting something you cannot have.

Why now? We need passion projects more than ever. The film industry has been through a gruelling few years, leaving many creatives burnt out and searching for inspiration. Passion projects provide a much-needed spark—a creative and emotional outlet outside of the day-to-day work that pays the bills. We know we might be biased, but the energy around this project is palpable. It feels special. We feel the potential every time we come together. It feels even more special when we all know that this is just the beginning. It doesn’t just feel like a one-off. It feels like the start of a journey.

Why will people enjoy it? Few things are more captivating onscreen than two people in love who cannot be together. Every glance is heavy with meaning, every word like a knife. There’s a reason audiences still obsess over the longing in Pride & Prejudice (2005)—we crave that intensity, that aching romance. Emrys & Elodie offers that same emotional weight, told in a visually striking and abstract way. Ultimately, we hope this film intrigues people, especially those who may not usually seek out ambiguity or shy away from anything abstract. Maybe it will be refreshing and something new for people to discover. We hope it stays with people long after watching.

IN COLLABORATION WITH CINELAB

Shooting on film is incredibly important to us, and we’re lucky enough to have the opportunity to collaborate with Cinelab to make this a reality. Film forces intentionality by creating firm constraints, which is something that helps immensely when producing any creative work. As well as a personal love for the process of working with film, it will also lend itself to the timeless, nostalgic quality of Emrys & Elodie, furthering the inability to pinpoint the space and time of the story and creating an intimate atmosphere to get lost in.