People who love kombucha often have really strong feelings about it. But none, I’d hazard, are quite as strong as the feelings generated by a sentient kombucha scoby named Mother in the indie film Darla in Space. Mother, it turns out, grants incredible orgasms to those who come in contact with her. And Darla (Alex E. Harris) is determined to make a mint off said orgasms, because she owes $349,00.22 in back taxes and it’s all due at once. If Mother helps Darla, Darla will help Mother get to space.
Darla in Space comes from first-time filmmakers Susie Moon and Eric Laplante. The film’s website explains:
This project is an expression of love for a character created by Eric’s wife, Alex. Darla Peterson started life as a comedy sketch about a woman peddling her customizable cat caskets. We want to know, why doesn’t Darla believe in luck? Why does she believe in pluck? And diligence? And dedication, and persistence? And perseverance. And tenacity. And gumption, and so on. About this same time Eric was making kombucha and Susie was making bread. This shared interest in yeast led us to wonder what it would be like for a woman named Darla Peterson to find herself the object of the affections of a yeast mass who has gained the ability to think and communicate like humans. A bit like humans. Not a whole lot like humans, but definitely closer to us than a cactus or something like that.
The film has screened at quite a few festivals, meaning a few reviewers have already experienced its clearly unusual blend of surrealism and fermented beverages. Film Inquiry said, “Darla in Space is a surreal comedy that defies conventions while remaining grounded. It’s a testament to the power of imagination and the enduring spirit of adventure. It’s also just damn funny.”
Meet Mother and Darla when Darla in Space arrives on demand on October 25th.
