- “With ‘Rocks In My Pockets,’ Signe Baumane presents a sharp, surprising and funny animated feature, plumbing the depths of depression via her family history. Guided by Ms. Baumane’s almost musically accented voice-over, this hand-drawn debut feature is based upon the mental struggles of her Latvian grandmother and other relatives. It’s told with remorseless psychological intelligence, wicked irony and an acerbic sense of humor.”
–Nicholas Rapold, NEW YORK TIMES - Full NEW YORK TIMES Review
“Boasting a narrative of extraordinary complexity and density, stuffed with irony, humor and tales-within-tales... imaginative... fascinating and very personal.”
–Alissa Simon, VARIETY
Full VARIETY Review
“Signe Baumane examines her family members’ history with mental illness (as well as her own struggles) with humor, delicacy and eye-catching animation techniques... Her commitment and talent is overwhelming.”
–Whitney Matheson, USA TODAY
Full USA TODAY Review
“Animated in a striking combination of real paper-mache sets and props and hand-drawn 2D figures, the film explores with wit, surreal invention and insight something left far too often undiscussed.”
–Boyd van Hoeij, THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER
Full THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER Review
“The story is positively enchanting, from beginning to end, at times so bitter you can almost taste it in your mouth, at other times tender and moving, often sweet or cynically funny.”
–FLIX
Full FLIX Review
“‘Rocks In My Pockets’ is a visually stunning masterpiece... an important film... a beautiful conversation starter.”
–Liz Whittemore, Reel News Daily
Full REEL NEWS DAILY Review
“Baumane is a first-rate cinema auteur. This very humane animation is destined to become a classic.”
–Jennifer Merin, Womens eNews
Full WOMENS ENEWS Review
“I often address difficult, uncomfortable subjects in my films, because I believe in confronting the things that bother me head-on.”
–Signe Baumane, Variety profile
Full VARIETY Profile
“You have to find a higher purpose. You have to make a film because you have to make it... because you can’t help it. If you are thinking about rewards you’re in the wrong business.”
–Signe Baumane, The Screen Feed interview
Full THE SCREEN FEED Interview
“My only advice to women directors would be: stick to your guns and continue making your films, feel free to explore new ways of telling stories and finding new ways of connecting with an audience. Because by the laws of the industry, what’s marginal today will be the core tomorrow."
–Signe Baumane, interview in IndieWire.
Full INDIEWIRE Interview
“I made the film not for my own therapy, but to entertain an audience, to make them think and engage them in a conversation. For me a film in a form of communication; yes, part of it is a self-expression, but it is also an exchange of ideas, a dialogue.”
–Signe Baumane, interview in MovieHole
Full MOVIEHOLE Interview