Plus
A self-potrait of someone longing for more- and finding it in Paris.
Delairah Bailey makes a profoundly moving film, an autoportrait that merges past, present, and future to imagine the filmmaker’s life in Paris. Beautifully shot and conceived, Plus is a personal film that simultaneously situates itself in the history of Paris where young women sought the freedom Paris promised . . . even if only for a short time.
From the Filmmaker
My work combines visual elements and my personal narrative to express my feelings and a deep desire for more freedom, creativity, and control in my life. This is something felt by many people in my situation, and I wanted to capture it using my own narrative. I shot in different locations in Paris and used clips from my time there to allow the audience to see the beauty that I saw from my experience. I found a new inspiration from visiting Paris, which sparked the idea of this film. Just from the first visit, I was able to explore a lot of the culture and learn about what life is like here. I came to a realization that I was. Living in the wrong country. As an artist from the US, I often feel that our field does not have much support and there is barely any opportunity to thrive. Artists tend not to do well, and a lot of the time, they end up working a normal job. I would more likely be able to be successful living in Paris because art is apart of the culture. As mentioned in my film, I learned about others who have shared a similar experience and who have also come to Paris for a more fulfilling life and better future. My film is a reflection of that feeling of hopelessness from not being able to do as much as you could, and that realization that maybe you’re just in the wrong place.
Stills
