Altitude Sickness : Behind The Film

Recovering from altitude sickness, a visitor browses a Montreal souvenir shop while questioning the cashier’s seemingly judgmental interest in her.

Through the naiveté of an angel, “Altitude Sickness” explores the topic of unnecessary self-consciousness and how negative judgments can arise from a simple fear of the unknown. Revealing the protagonist as an angel at the end of the film symbolically illustrates how being “different” can be synonymous with “beautiful” and “empowering.”

For someone who finds comfort in familiarity, introducing a new element may lead to a feeling of uncertainty and imbalance in their life. Consequently, as an attempt to find stability, these same individuals may be quick to label what they do not comprehend as "other" with a pejorative and judgemental undertone, such as “strange” or “unnatural.”

While admittedly it is more easily said than done, I find it important to recognize that people’s negative opinions of us come from their own insecurities and should not carry any weight on our own. We must realize perspective is everything and with the correct mindset, we can turn our so-called “imperfections” into our biggest strengths. As cliché as it may be, I strongly believe our differences are what make us special, and ultimately memorable. Ultimately, "Altitude Sickness" is about recognizing those differences as empowering and beautiful.