- For something a little off-kilter, take a look at Cockatoo, an 11-minute short from Australian filmmaker Matthew Jenkin that explores heartbreak and closure. The film follows a man who makes a desperate attempt to get over his previous relationship by hiring an actress from the Reality Dreams agency to play his ex-girlfriend for a few hours. It’s a bittersweet comedy, and Jenkin approaches it with equal parts humor and sensitivity, making for a charmingly poignant short. Find it here.
- No less quirky and emotionally resonant is Dutch duo Albert ‘t Hoof and Paco Vink’s Fallin’ Floyd. The nine-minute animated film tells the tale of a street musician, whose failed proposal to his girlfriend sends him spiraling into darkness, accompanied by a literal emotional demon. Hoof and Vink eschew dialogue in favor of brilliant visuals and a stunning score, and the story resolves in a wonderfully hopeful way. Take a look at the short here.
- If a happy resolution isn’t your thing, check out Basically, a 14-minute short from Ari Aster in which House of Cards actress Rachel Brosnahan plays a spoiled, entitled actress delivering a lengthy confession about her empty life. The entire script is a fourth wall-breaking monologue, and Brosnahan delivers it beautifully, creating a character that is at one abrasive and sympathetic. Aster creates a fascinating world around her, employing plenty of visual irony to make an impact. The film can be found here.
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