Ben‘s mask fits organically into the scene as a central element and is mainly responsible for illustrating the pressure Ben feels. It takes the form of an oversized headpiece. As the film progresses, this head continuously grows larger. As it grows, more and more prominent veins emerge, intended to breathe life into the artificial skull. At the end of the film, Ben‘s head takes on a slackened form, hanging down at the sides like an empty sack. Symbolically, this final state represents the ultimate release of the pressure to perform. A release that does not simply retreat to the normal size of the skull, but one that leaves its mark. Various mask versions are made for this purpose: they are created from silicone and require several steps, including careful modeling and final painting.
