In May, we spent two days in London and on the road to shoot a highly ambitious project for Ada + Nik Spring/Summer ’15 – a short film called ‘Carpe Noctem’ – the same name as the collection itself. Barely a month later, we premiered the film at the Ada + Nik SS15 runway show and now, with huge pleasure, we get to unveil the digital version in full HD quality.
As with The Dark Wolf, we worked with my brother Oz Thakkar to produce and direct the film. You can read an interview with him about the film on HYPEBEAST. Carpe Noctem is a bizarre, elegant tale of man who diurnally sacrifices to escape his memories. Carpe Noctem is a punk-luxe nightmare melodrama – tangled with a bizarre backstory. It’s a film of the kind that only Ada + Nik would dare create. Brando, played by Oliver Walker, wakes up everyday with no idea who he is – or where he’s come from. His actions are dictated by his primal instincts – lust and thrill.
The film is a hazy blur of premonitions. Brando – a blank canvas – puts on his clothes and drags on his smoke as he discovers himself. Premonitions take us on this punk-luxe journey – with a beautiful girl, a classic hog, and the open road. It’s a nod to the likes of Godard and Murakami – ambiguity and false roads. With a bizarre twist, we’re confronted by the ‘Master’. In the words of Bob Dylan, “..it may be the devil, or it may be the Lord – you’re gonna have to serve somebody” – a reality check hits home – Brando needs to decide whether or not he sacrifices to lose his memories and wake up – every day – the same. A cyclical hell of false roads and sacrifice – or live life free from burdens – free from the past.
Special thanks to Rosewood London, NJOY Premium E-Cigarettes, Thompson London Jewellery, The Q Camera, Deciem (Fountain and inhibitif), AOFM Make Up and Untitled Motorcycles.
An extra special thanks goes to photographer Fiona Garden who documented the two days of filming – the images have been used in features on GQ, WWD etc. and more images can be seen below.
Produced and directed by Oz Thakkar
Fashion: Ada + Nik Spring/Summer 2015
Creative producers: Ada Zanditon and Nik Thakkar
Starring: Oliver Walker and Elarica Gallacher
Co-starring: Luca Ribezzo and Sam Alexander
Original score by: Daniel Rostrup
