Annecy 2016: Short Films In Competition 5
The grey skies and puddles have failed to dampen our spirits as the week hurtles along at a breakneck pace. It is at this point in an Annecy trip when you begin to look back at the festival and take stock of what you’ve seen and what you have left to see before you begrudgingly have to go to the airport and back to work next week. The final two days of the festival seem to be the most relaxed, MIFA packs away for another year on the Friday, and of course Saturday means it’s time for the picnic, pedalo race and Skwigly rounders game – alas, the relentless rain meant that we had to postpone the rounders for this year, but we will bring the trophy back next year to award the victors. That didn’t stop the picnic providing the usual, lively, musical atmosphere.
With only a couple of days left and one more Short Films in Competition package remaining, the “Off Limits” selection, we take a look at Short Films in Competition 5, which although varied and interesting, includes a couple of films which may be deemed experimental enough to have warranted an inclusion in the Off Limits section as they verge on the avant-garde.
Waves ’98
Lebanon – Ely Dagher
For all of its grandure, I must say I found this film far too long. We follow a young lad and his friends into a fantasyland which is presented through a mix of live action TV, 2D and CG. The CG Elephants and dreamy landscapes are striking in their way but fail to convey any real message, though the short is desperately trying to get across a message of disillusionment the film drowns in it’s own dreamy atmosphere.
One Minute Art History
China – Shu Cao
Even with a runtime of a minute and a half, this short may have been one of the strongest in programme 5. A simple story of a man standing up, walking and then sitting down is broken down into frames, with each frame being re-created based on a famous art movement or painting. Mesmerising stuff.
The Empty
South Korea – Dahee Jeong
A fluid and metamorphic piece, we watch spaces merge and shapes shift. The animation has a lovely style to it and flow is so gentle it comes across as kind of therapeutic.
Bird Flu
Estonia – Hefang Wei, Pritt Tender
Though this film starts like a children’s story, this short morphs into a bizarre tale about ecology, the first sin and lust. Complete the scenario with drunken penguins, cute baby birds and snake boobs and you’ve got an oddly memorable short. I do remember this director’s previous short The Banquet of the Concubine that toyed with similar themes of jealously and betrayal.
A Coat Made Dark
Ireland – Jack O’Shea
There’s a filthy grain to the visual design of this film that is a match for the dark tone and murky underhand dealings of the main characters. A mysterious coat is stolen by a man and a anthropomorphic dog. The dominant dog controls the man who wears the coat.. The magical jacket dispenses unlimited money and so a controlling relationship develops between the dog and the man. I found the relationship and the jealously the most interesting part of this short, which isn’t afraid to use rape analogies to heighten the tension between the two. The writing is fantastic as the short manages to successfully round off the story with a delightful twist.
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Canada – Brandon Blommaert
A playful look at music and sound. Graphics interact in a 3D space in time to the music, a synthetic experience.
https://vimeo.com/133592309
Kaputt
Germany – Volker Schlecht, Alexander Lahl
This short decides to take the look of a film made on one sheet of paper (similar to Ross Hogg’s The Man Who Mistook His Wife For a Hat) but do it digitally, which makes it look rather clinical once you see that it has been done in that way. Story wise, the film takes you on a harrowing journey through a women’s prison and bleak, violent atmosphere that envelops it’s inhabitants.
Die Geschichte vom Fuchs, der den Verstand verlor
Germany – Christian Asmussen, Matthias Bruhn
I’m often confused by the programmes at Annecy. One minute you’re watching a film about the horrors of a women’s prison and the next you get a bright and colourful children’s film based on a popular book. There’s nothing wrong with variety, though it can sometime jolt you around a little. This film has purpose other than entertaining kids though as it deals with a cunning fox that gets dementia as he ages. Handled in a sensitive way the film takes an entertaining look at the condition but is ultimately conscious and delicate about it.
Nœvus
France – Samuel Yal
The female form is distorted and destroyed in porcelain, turned into a tide and explored vigorously through other materials as they rust, glob and explode their way through the idea. An excellent study, enhanced by its soundtrack.
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