Undoubtedly tough & touching portrayal of the lasting sadness and separating isolation after a school shooting tragedy. A beautiful encapsulation of the joy of a life lived and the sadness of it’s taken away.
So intricate and marvelously rendered, life and the world on a microcosmic level. Laid out in a Metropolis-like building structure, its fascinating and gorgeous. The pyramid machine works of the cosmos and existence says nothing while literally discussing eveything.
Burrow (2020) - Madeline Sharafian and Michael Capbarat (USA, 6 min) - 7-/10
Adorable and light, its wordless cuteness. This is the Disney/Pixar offering, so expectations accordingly.
(Available on Disney Plus)
Genius Loci (2016) - Adrien Merigeau and Amaury Ovise (France, 16 min) - 6/10
So many different techniques and clever art dalliances in this trippy & expansive surreal animated voyage. Chaotic and curious, both in its ambiguity and aims. Quelle surprise; its very French existential bent.
Cute and fun slice of life, as these residents of an apartment building just say ‘yes’ in a Peanuts adult ‘wah wah’-esque manner. Not much depth, but enjoyable and well made.
Additional Oscar shortlisted films included in the program:
To Gerard (2020) - Taylor Meacham (USA, 8 min) - 7/10 - Darling and magical. Probably should have made the cut, as its quality is up there.
Kapaemahu (2020) - Hinaleimoana Wong-Kalu, Joe Wilson, Dean Hammer (USA, 7 min) - 6/10 - A lovely mythology of Hawaii well crafted and laid out.
The Snail and the Whale (2019) - Daniel Snaddon, Max Land (United Kingdom, Germany, 26 min) - 5/10 - Cute and rhymey, but a bit long and vacant.