Two gay men struggle with depression in a ruined environment, and a botanical glassblower mourns his wife. “Flora Borealis,” directed by Casey Friedman, is a striking animated film that uses a post-apocalyptic setting to explore themes of destruction and perseverance. The young couple survives in a dilapidated high-rise building living off fast food hamburgers. One of the men has his sights set on escape while the other has lost all hope. The recounting of an old story about a sad artist and a powerful prince in a faraway land delivers colorful imagery and unexpected resonance. Friedman’s film was made through the Jacob Burns Film Center’s “Creative Culture," a vital fellowship program that has supported an impressive slate of emerging talent. -KA.

Director, Editor, Animator: Casey Friedman. Cast: Matthew Corr, Jackson Anthony, Jeorge Bennett Watson, Sam Swanson, Mark Dessaix. Director of Photography: Jake DeNicola. Producer: Casey Friedman, Sean Weiner.