Imaginal Disk — Tribeca Review
Source: Tribeca
Amanda Kramer’s eccentric, quirky sensibilities and Magdalena Bay’s dreamy, ethereal music are a match made in creative heaven. Imaginal Disk serves as the visual accompaniment to the pop duo’s 2024 concept album of the same name. Magdalena Bay consists of Mica Tenenbaum and Matthew Lewin, both of whom star in the companion film. Not only did the duo create the music, but they also wrote and edited the project. Kramer’s direction brings their artistic vision to life, resulting in an experimental film that fully captures the band’s spirit. It’s a wacky, chaotic explosion of color and absurdity.
While admirers of Kramer’s work may walk away as Magdalena Bay converts, and Magdalena Bay devotees may gain a newfound appreciation for Kramer as a filmmaker, audiences hoping for a clear, cohesive narrative will likely be befuddled by the film’s abstract approach. The concept album and its visual counterpart center on a fictional character named True, played by Mica Tenenbaum. The titular Imaginal Disk, a compact disc-like device implanted into her forehead, is designed to transform her into the ideal version of herself. When her body rejects the disc, True is forced to confront her identity and sense of self. Ultimately, the film is a surreal tale of self-discovery as she embarks on a journey to relearn what it means to be human.
It is no coincidence that the title Imaginal Disk bears such close resemblance to “imaginal disc,” a biological term used to describe the parts of an insect larva that will eventually emerge to form a portion of their adult bodies after they undergo metamorphosis. Like its scientific namesake, both the album and the film are fundamentally concerned with transformation, growth, and the emergence or creation of a new self. However, those themes often remain obscured beneath the film’s dense abstraction, which may leave many viewers struggling to fully grasp its deeper meaning.
The album and film begin with the song “She Looked Like Me!” with the third verse setting the story in motion:
“I didn’t know her when she walked in
But I recognized her eyes
Her hair lifted as she stood still
Right there in the light
And she felt like a dream
I didn't know what to think
She looked like me”
In this moment, True encounters an idealized version of herself, with Mica Tenenbaum playing both roles. As True, she has dark hair and wears a vibrant blue outfit accented by matching makeup across her eyes and forehead. Her idealized counterpart resembles a ghostly apparition or angel, sporting a pale blonde wig and dressed entirely in white.
The film’s editing is particularly impressive, featuring a variety of playful transitions. For example, as “She Looked Like Me!” ends and the next track, “Killing Time,” begins, True drops from the sky and lands in a rocking chair. The frequent use of cross-dissolves and fades enhances the film’s hazy, dreamlike atmosphere.
“True Blue Interlude” serves as an advertisement that True watches on a retro television, selling her on a procedure promising to transform her into the purest version of herself. The quirky production design and cinematography are especially striking during “Image,” which sees True dancing through a pop-art-inspired waiting room. A bizarre array of visuals and animations swirls around her as she prepares to meet her “brand new image.” When the idealized version of True takes center stage, most notably during “Death & Romance,” the diffused lighting creates a halo effect that lends her an almost angelic appearance.
What unfolds is a whimsical, kaleidoscopic journey populated by UFOs, dancing birds, winged eyeballs, and an assortment of otherworldly creatures and eccentric characters. Nearly every frame bursts with vibrant colors, absurd imagery, and dizzying visual flourishes. It’s a bubbly, maximalist spectacle that embraces excess. Watching it is like watching the Teletubbies while under the influence of LSD.
Imaginal Disk is a euphoric, psychedelic trip that’s guaranteed to induce sensory overload. It’s an ambitious fusion of experimental film, synth-pop, and performance art. While it may alienate viewers seeking a more conventional narrative, the film’s unapologetic commitment to its surreal logic and singular artistic vision is precisely what makes it compelling. It feels like a work that isn’t meant to be fully understood so much as experienced. Amanda Kramer and Magdalena Bay construct something closer to a fever dream than a traditional film. They immerse the viewer in a peculiar, outlandish world where emotion and aesthetic overwhelm any sense of coherence. For those willing to surrender to its abstract atmosphere, kooky visuals, and groovy synth-pop instrumentation, it becomes a colorful, joyful trip.
Imaginal Disk premiered at Tribeca on June 4, 2026.
