Lazaro

Description

LAZARO is a profound story set both now and in the distant future.

John Lazaro is resurrected in 2143 A.D with limited memory after being cryogenically frozen here in 2014 A.D.

Realising the scientists who brought him back to life are holding him against his will, John escapes in an attempt to track down family and friends in the places he once lived and worked.

Places that no longer exist.

We witness John encounter people in the future as old memories surface of his ex-girlfriend, high-anxiety job, remote family and detached, fast lifestyle bringing with them a cocktail of conflicting emotions.

As John is hunted it dawns on him there is nothing here for him in 2143, no one even knows his name. This realisation throws into sharp relief the incredible opportunities he was blind to in his own life, back in 2014.

He desperately wishes he had had more faith, more love and compassion then, instead of living by a self-absorbed ruthless code.

John gives himself up to the scientists knowing he has found faith and doesn’t belong in this idealised version of the future.

As they take him away, John breaks into the smile of a man truly Resurrected.

Biblical Connection

The story of John Lazaro takes it's cue from the Biblical story of Lazarus of Bethany’s resurrection while nodding to themes found in the separate story of The Rich Man and Lazarus. We wanted to mine the emotions and symbolism of Lazarus in a strong modern context and reimagine the excitement that must have surrounded this miracle. By visiting Lazarus, Jesus knowingly set in motion his own crucifixion. One man gives up his life so another can have his. Jesus made this ultimate sacrifice because Lazarus lived by unconditional faith in him, in love, in God. Thousands flocked to Christianity as a result. Symbolically then Man is spiritually ‘resurrected’ when he finds unconditional faith. We wanted to marry this enduring motif to themes found in contemporary self-inflected society and by proxy explore the obdurate conflict between science and religion. Finally, it was interesting to show this story from the less considered perspective of Lazarus. In our modern anxious world, where we attempt to bend life to our will, extend it, improve it, control it, we seem more distracted from ‘living’ than ever. Detached from the moment, each other, ourselves and faith. In ‘Lazaro’ our hero will understand this and be truly resurrected.