- I’m always a fan of short films that convey their stories without dialogue, and Life is Beautiful is no exception. The nine-minute animated short from Dutch filmmaker Ben Brand tells the sweetly sorrowful story of Anton, who’s always been smaller than his peers. When he tires of his miserable existence and decides to end it, he discovers that there’s much more to life than he thought previously. Brand’s 3D animation is lovely, all bright colors and exaggerated expressions, and he lets the tale unfold with a great deal of emotional nuance. Take a look at the short here.
- If you like your animation simpler and with a fair helping of melancholia, try Irish Royal College of Art graduate Eamon O’Neill’s 10-minute Left, a simple little film that chronicles a young man’s life of sadness and self-destruction. The visuals are sparse, geometric, and dull in color, echoing the narrative’s darkness while still expressing a great deal of feeling. The short can be found here.
- For something at once retro and undeniably modern, take a look at Gumshoe. Matt Steinauer’s four-minute black-and-white noir short combines expert radio foley sounds with first-person POV camera work that thankfully shies away from excessive shakiness, and the classic detective story is one that will please those who are fond of the genre. See the film here.
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Short film round-up |