Clip description
Cuinn is a typical teenager. He’s 16 years old and full of curiosity. He’s creative, thrillseeking and learning to break away from his parents’ world. But according to the latest science, his brain is still very unformed and won’t be mature until he reaches the age of 25 years.
Curator’s notes
One of the delights of this magazine item is the filmmaker’s skill in using Cuinn’s passion for clay animation to enhance the brain imagery and to unite the disparate parts of a compelling story. Combined with the stylish camerawork and the fast pacing of the story, as well as the neat idea of pitching father against adolescent son, it makes for a fascinating and watchable episode.
Catalyst is usually presented in a magazine format with two or three items for each television half-hour. This program is a fine example of just how much can be packed into an item of around 15 minutes – in this case, some hard science and a couple of really interesting human stories that graphically explain what happens when science and the law are at odds. And binding it all together are the powerful visual effects of a young man’s animation of the brain.