The title ‘EUDAEMONIA’ is a Greek word commonly translated as “happiness” or “human flourishing”. The themes explored surround the idea of human connection, and what it is to live a meaningful life.
This film is about a serendipitous and fleeting moment of human connection. Amy is a poverty-stricken artist and tattooist in the midst of a downward spiral grappling with chronic isolation and meaninglessness in New York City. Cara is a wealthy, young backpacker with self-sabotaging tendencies who’s been traveling for a year, running from family pressures. They meet accidentally when Cara gets locked out the night before her flight and proceeds to accidentally break into the wrong apartment. Amy and Cara’s initial differences gradually subside over the course of the evening.
The story pivots around this brief exchange – a simple conversation from which both women emerge changed. Shortly after, Cara rushes off to catch her flight as Amy sleeps, both never to meet again.
EUDAEMONIA plays with the notion of transience, and the power of an un-repeated moment. The Zen Buddhist phrase ‘ichigo ichie’, encapsulates this feeling; defined as “one time, one meeting”.
Travel and experiencing different cultures has played a significant role in my life. Despite location or language, the beautiful fragility of our humanity consistently connects all people. It’s this commonality that I’d like to tap into with my work – possessing great fascination in stories that entertain, dissolve barriers, and diffuse our sense of isolation and disconnect.
— Julia Ngeow