The dialogue-free “Daughter” comes to us from the Czech Republic. It concerns a grown woman, sitting by her ill father's hospital bed. She reflects upon her childhood, as an imaginative but shy girl raised by a withdrawn man. She in particular returns to a memory, of discovering a bird that flew into a glass window and then making a bird mask for herself. The fallout of this event haunts her still. And it seems she is not the only one still attempting to process the feelings that came before, during, and after that time.
What's immediately noticeable about “Daughter” is how it looks. The short is created with stop-motion animation using rough-hew, paper puppets. This creates a delightfully hand-made and gritty appearance for the film. I especially like the creativity on display during the more surreal moments, such as when the girl's bedroom becomes a bird's nest or her father transforms into the black bird flying through the city. (Or the way a pot boiling over is depicted by a clear plastic spilling out of a tiny pot.) The short doesn't lack emotion either. The simple tale of attempting to connect with a parent, when they don't always understand you, is universal. The film's quiet, melancholy atmosphere perfectly captures that sense of loneliness in a lyrical way. I wasn't a big fan of the sometimes shaky camera movement used throughout though, the only downside to an otherwise wonderful film. [8/10]
The shorts continue to be an international affair with the second entry of the bundle, “Sister.” At first, the story is about a man remembering his childhood with his bratty sister. As a baby, she would steal his toys. When they were a little older, they would bicker and fight. The brother was the one that usually took the punishment. Sometimes, they performed whimsical activities together, such as the time they took the idea of “growing an new tooth” rather literally. This is before “Sister” reveals itself as actually being about something totally different.
Yes, “Sister” has a rather annoying plot twist midway through. It turns out that this is an “issues” movie about China's one-child policy. (That, in an American context, can't help but come off as weirdly pro-life.) Up until that point, I was enjoying the short. This is another stop-motion production, brought to left with fuzzy, fabric-like dolls. There are numerous surreal flights of fancy, such as the baby sister growing to giant size – obviously symbolizing the giant role she now plays in the boy's life – and the rather direct way he deals with that. Or the unusual way the camera takes us inside the “tooth tree” that grows when the kids plant the missing tooth. If it wasn't for that blindsiding plot twist, this would probably be a visually inventive and interesting experience. [6/10]
“Memorable” is our third international, stop-motion short of the evening. Louis is a painter that is slowly loosing his memories and sense of reality to some sort of neuro-degenerative disease. He frequently forgets things he has just done, or needs to do. He doesn't know what year it is. His recollection of the past and the present start to blend into each other. Simple concepts, like how to use a record player or a cellphone, escape him. This puts a considerable burden on his wife, Michelle, who isn't prepare to handle her husband's worsening state. Yet, even as he forgets his own face, he doesn't forget he loves her.
Once again, I feel like “Memorable' got a nomination more for its visual presentation than its story. The puppets are piled up with paint, given them an appropriately aged and rustic appearance. The short has many wonderfully surreal images. Such as Louis' therapist appearing as an abstract structure or the way he observes his grandchildren as half-finished sculptures. Yet the story here bugs me. Objects melt into paint all around him. “Memorable” can't seem to decide if its taking Louis' condition seriously or playing it for laughs. There are jokes here involving dead fish, handing his wife the wrong objects across the table, and an especially mean-spirited gag involving a blow-dryer. Yet the short's conclusion wants to play the situation for sentimental emotion. This is somewhat effective and there's some lovely visuals in that last part but the uncertain tone really bugs me. Commit to one or the other. [6/10]
Quite unexpectedly, American animation studios – so obsessed with CGI – provide the two shorts this year made with traditional animation. “Hair Love” comes to us from Sony Pictures Animation. Zuri is a young black girl with an unruly head of thick, curly hair. Getting ready for a special trip, she attempts to style her hair – by watching a Youtube instructional video on the topic – but doesn't have much help with it. Her dad attempts to help her out but he's utterly clueless how to de-tangle such a difficult hairdo.
“Hair Love” is pretty damn cute. Zuri's precocious attempts to master her own follicles lead to a few laughs, such as how ti's first revealed how unruly her hair truly is. While combing her hair, the dad imagines himself as a pro-wrestler tangle with a giant afro monster, a funny gag. The short ends on a more sentimental note, in a way that comes off as more mawkish than touching. Before that, it's a funny and beautifully animated bit of cartoon-y slapstick. It's not unsurprising to see director Bruce W. Smith, previously of “Bebe's Kids” and “The Proud Family,” continues to explore black identity through his work. I imagine this short will mean a lot to young girls of color. [7/10]
Once again, a studio known primarily for CGI animation – Pixar – provides us with the last traditionally animated short of the evening. “Kitbull” comes from Pixar's SparkShorts program, where animators are given a limited time and budget but are allowed to explore more adult themes. The shorts are then being released on Disney+ and Youtube. The short follows a tiny black stray kitten. The scrappy survivor ends up living in a box in a junkyard. The only other inhabitant of the area is a young pitbull. The two form a friendship of sorts but this is tested when the pitbull is trained to participate in a dog fighting ring.
There's no doubt that “Kitbull” pulls at your heart strings. Like most people, nothing makes my eyes water up faster than seeing an innocent animal in distress. “Kitbull” so accurately portrays the playfulness of the pitbull breed. Not to mention the amount of character and personality the animators give the tiny kitten. The (largely implied) abuse the poor dog suffers definitely pulls your heart out. Watching the acceptance the mistreated animal receives from his fuzzy friend is extremely touching. There's some mild suspense in an escape sequence and a beautifully sweet ending. The animation is gorgeously sketchy. This is the likely winner of the category and easily my favorite of the lot. [9/10]
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