For as long as cinema has been around, portrayals of the afterlife have been created for the big screen. Stripping away the frivolities of some big budget portraits, British-Bulgarian indie filmmaker Mickey Angelov talks about the meaning of life through words and ideas in the drama Dali.

Angelov directs and stars as the title character, a Bulgarian-born, American-raised rapper who has recently died. At a crossroads before the afterlife, he is interviewed The Gatekeeper, a disembodied voice he calls “Lady”, with the aim of deciding where he wants to go next. As the two look over memories from his life, the ideas of self, happiness, and love is questioned. Resisting at first, Dali begins to piece together what made his life special to him.

Cleverly written and told with passion, the narrative device of the interview is endlessly intriguing. Set against a black screen with two voices and stylised subtitles, some big questions are asked in a way that feels accessible, avoiding pomposity by always grounding itself in humanity. Dali is challenged on his racial identity, and why he feels so separate from his Bulgarian roots. In turn, he bites back at accusations that his fame and fortune was hollow, presenting moments of struggle that made him enjoy the opulence even more.

Ultimately, this is a film about the relationships that make us who we are. The women Dali loves, his family, and his friends all gives us some idea of the life he has lived. This is perhaps where the film could have benefitted from some trimming. Certain scenes, such as a sequence where Dali’s friends talk about a threesome, or a TMZ-style interview in the street, don’t tell the audience anything new, and feel frivolous in the light of the story’s larger messages.

Despite this filler, there are enough heartfelt moments to keep the story moving along, as well as some strong performances. Angelov makes Dali a compelling figure, hiding emotions behind an armour of bravado that is never allowed to be pierced by those around him. Equally, Lucrezia Galeone is magnetic in a largely vocal performance as The Gatekeeper. Gentle but firm, she brings a quiet authority to a largely abstract concept, boiling it all down to simple questions such as: “Where do you want to go?”

A bold take on existence, as a film Dali reflects its protagonist – visual extravagance that reveals something deeper going on beneath the surface.

Dali just saw its world premiere at the 33rd edition of the Raindance Film Festival, which takes place between June 18th and 27th.