

“Don’t be so tragical, Lucius, it’s a magical day!” In this short musical film, two forest spirits (and best friends) have a falling out and must navigate their own growing pains and anxieties with love and life before trying to reconnect. Experience the beauty of summer in this modern myth, shot entirely on location (and outside) in Mid-Michigan in East Lansing, Grand Ledge, and Holt. You can support River Magnus and future films on our Patreon page: patreon.com/themagnuscommonplace If you enjoyed this, check out our other short films! The Moneytree: A Magnus Musical - Big Red: A Motion Capture Animated Short Film - Find video essays and BTS for River Magnus projects on The Magnus Commonplace channel: patreon.com/themagnuscommonplace AUBIN & LUCIUS: A MAGNUS MUSICAL - The Short Film | Sony A7siii | 4K | Musical Short Film | Queer Short Film | LGBTQ Film
Director
Writer
Status
Released
Original Language
EN

Roughly chronological, from 3/96 to 11/96, with a coda in spring of 1997: inside compounds of Aum Shinrikyo, a Buddhist sect led by Shoko Asahara. (Members confessed to a murderous sarin attack in the Tokyo subway in 1995.) We see what they eat, where they sleep, and how they respond to media scrutiny, on-going trials, the shrinking of their fortunes, and the criticism of society. Central focus is placed on Hiroshi Araki, a young man who finds himself elevated to chief spokesman for Aum after its leaders are arrested. Araki faces extreme hostility from the Japanese public, who find it hard to believe that most followers of the cult had no idea of the attacks and even harder to understand why these followers remain devoted to the religion, if not the violence.

A young writer is invited to the remote compound of a legendary pop star who mysteriously disappeared thirty years ago. Surrounded by the star's cult of sycophants and intoxicated journalists, she finds herself in the middle of his twisted plan.