Fiction Adaptation - Critical choices & why

I just wanted to create a post which would shed light on some of the decision making and my cognition's on a variety of aspects that i feel may not get a mention otherwise. 

Sound design -
At the half way mark of my film i decide to incorporate sounds that i would associate with life and death, the passing of life especially, reasoning for this is simple, the poem speaks innately about life and the mourning of people dying and that we're not to linger on it. with the sound and visuals, I wanted it to be shocking and conflicting, to play on that fear as it adds a greater depth of layers an sophistication. 

Visual display - 
In essence to me the poem is about life, the remnants of the dead with the living and the dead transforming into something fresh and reborn. That is why reincarnation is themed visually throughout with the ice melting sequence. I tried to convey how life is cyclical with it but i'm not too sure if the audience will grasp it as it is quite obscure. I feel for what my concept was, i have displayed what i set out to achieve, but maybe some people won't be able to see link the creative metaphor with the poem as they're not open minded to the abstractness of the piece? 

Inspiration - 
A film that i had seen fairly recently, Mother, by Darren Aronofsky, left a profound feeling deep inside of me. The films biblical themes, and its usage of symbolism throughout the narrative was extremely engaging and breathtaking. 

The film popped up in my mind when i knew the theme of my poem, and the interpretation of it, as Mother is about mother nature, which just keeps giving, even know man kind keeps repeatedly destroying it, eventually killing it, it gives new life, and the cycle begins again. I intended to try and start and end with the same shot, how the film does, as it conveys the message so beautifully how cyclical the world is, unfortunately though i couldn't justify starting off with the ice cube melting as i felt it would make the structure of the narrative less powerful. 


Editing -
I was in two minds in regards to having the burning furnace sound coinciding with the flames visually, or to have it running with the ice. But in the end i decided to go with the burning sound under the flames to add emphasis on the heat, an to keep the authenticity.  

The final shot of the red robin leaving was intentional, as this is the last time we see the bird i felt it was significant due to the poems direction towards the end of it, it goes from these beautiful visuals, to an authoritative tone, so i cut in the heartbeat soundtrack which contrasts nicely with the imagery.

The end sequence with the mirror effect was chosen to signify life and death, life being represented by the shot facing upwards, and death, by the shot turned by 180 degrees. I wanted to play with the theme throughout, and that essence of remaining, just not being able to see.