Downfall

Rona Fayad is a Graphic Designer and 2d Animator. She graduated with a BA in Graphic Design from the Lebanese American University and a Masters Degree in Animation from ALBA. Aside from her studies, Rona is currently a freelance Graphic Designer & Animator. She has a passion for Dance, Music, and Arts.

Director Statement
I chose Downfall as a title to represent Enya’s journey in life as she struggles with borderline personality disorder.

Enya is a dancer and her behaviour drags her downhill as she tries to make a successful career. Meanwhile, dancing helps ease her symptoms and prevents her complete collapse.

Since I was young, I always had a passion for dancing. Throughout my experience I have noticed that dancing is my refuge whenever I’m faced with difficulties. It helps me overcome challenges, it lifts my mood, and enables me to connect with myself. I was interested in the idea of dancing as a therapy to treat personality disorders and through research found that indeed, dance movement therapy exists. While thinking about a very close friend struggling with BPD, I thought that it would be a good idea to link BPD with dance movement therapy and portray the importance of dance in treating BPD.

In my film, I portray Enya’s different symptoms of borderline personality disorder that hinder her career as a dancer. Enya struggles with chronic feelings of emptiness, unclear self-image, self- destructive behaviours, feeling suspicious and out of touch with reality. Ultimately dancing acts as a support system that prevents her full breakdown.

I’m hoping that through this film I am able to shed light on the importance of mental health and the wide possibilities of therapy that one could use to overcome their challenges.