A Father and Son Journey to Find Understanding in Beautiful Kodak Film

Director Terry Rayment depicts the transformational power of love and happiness with his 35mm spot 'Understanding.' Cinematographer Kate Arizmendi helps Rayment display the power of visual storytelling at its best, capturing all the emotions beautifully on KODAK VISION3 500T 5219. 

Kodak’s affiliation with the piece, which chronicles the relationship between a teenage boy and his father as he struggles to accept his son’s homosexuality, speaks to the brand’s willingness to share socially relevant stories that have the power to spark change. Captured as a powerful and poignant slice of life, 'Understanding' communicates the values of acceptance and equality that the Kodak brand holds close.

With minimal dialogue, the spot illustrates the struggle of a parent's expectations weighed against the needs of the heart.  The journey from misunderstanding and judgement ultimately comes to a point of full support, influenced by the discovery of a cherished moment caught in a photograph. The underlying message is delivered with a sense of realism and nuance: when seen through the eyes of those who love us, all who we choose to love are fully embraced.

Inspired to pay homage to the iconic Kodak brand, Terry Rayment set out to create a snapshot of family life that felt as if it could exist in any time period, in any town. Shepherded by Eskimo Executive Producer Kristofer Barton, 'Understanding' was shot in rural Pennsylvania over the course of three days. Together with cinematographer Kate Arizmendi, they forewent stylised trends of contemporary filmmaking, instead opting to strip the compositions, the blocking and the camera direction down to their most fundamental forms. Then they reconstructed the scenes from the remaining raw building blocks of cinema, making sure that each moment had a clear narrative beat, which propelled the story forward. The creative approach paid off, the resulting spot has a timeless look and feel to it that will endure repeat viewings and remain culturally relevant for years after its release.