# animate! › Films › Winter Trees by Sarah Downes › synopses

Canonical: https://animate.org.uk/films/wintertrees/synopses

Discovery terms: 1990s animation, collage animation, live action and animation, fertility, nature, regeneration, poetry film, filmmaker

The following is the archived page text; discovery terms above are separately sourced metadata.

Archive status: restored in 2026; historical calls, deadlines and services are closed.

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**Winter Trees** a film by Sarah Downes

1993, 6 min 51 sec

### animate! synopsis

Sylvia Plath and the essence of the feminine. Fertility and regeneration in a dazzling multi-media landscape. Beauty with edges.

### long synopsis

Sylvia Plath’s poem **Winter Trees** is translated line by line into a personalised visual language.

The central anthropomorphism of the poem is illustrated in dense animation. A sense of unease is evoked – the spirit of rebirth is contrasted with the pervasive air of uncertainty as the tree succeeds where women sometimes fail: in the unceasing regeneration of nature.

**Winter Trees** film, stills and other materials © Sarah Downes 1993