Sink or Swim

One way to view this film is as an autobiographical account of Friedrich's lifelong relationship with her father. However, I think what Friedrich presents us with here is much more interesting and important than a simple daughter-father story; she constructs a filmic tracing of her Umwelt (in the original sense intended by von Uexküll). 'Good' things and 'bad' things happen when Su's Umwelt overlaps with that of her father and the Water Moccasin (Agkistrodon piscivorus).

remarkable coming-of-age autobiography narrated by a girl and matched with imagery that only sometimes relates to those memories. in particular is a reminiscence of her father, and she ultimately judges him very harshly. there's a particular sideways jab that i love, when she talks about his anthropological work on greek mythology and feminism.