Hiroshima Diary
Repete by Michaela Pavlatová, Czech Republic. Already seen many, many times. Once again I'll Salute the Sun by Mahin Javaherian, Iran. Astonishing--Peace, war, peace? Rotoscope, probably. I liked it very much during the selection, and I am not disappointed this time either. I hope to see it again during the prize screening. Country Doctor by Katarina Lillqvist, Finland: puppets, based on a story by Kafka--a little confused, hard to follow: the soundtrack is a little too aggressive, but the animation, the puppets are superb. We Lived in Grass by Andreas Hykade, Germany: first film, drawn on paper and cels, purposely primitive graphics--at 16 minutes, it's long but it goes by well--a personal film, like Barry Purves, the unusual expression of a young man who speaks of his birth, war and love, while reproaching his father for having hidden the truth from him. Good for the Grand Prize?
Sunday, August 25
First thing in the morning I write, as I do every morning. Then shopping with Kine--where we buy lots of useless things, to be sure... To our great surprise, all the stores are open--"business as usual." When do the Japanese rest?
In the afternoon, screening and lecture "Animation Education in the United Kingdom" by Richard Taylor, who has taught animation in England for 25 years. He's about to publish an Anthology of Animation. The auditorium is full. It's a delight. He shows and explains the films, how they were made, the character and career of each animator: from An Vrombaut (Little Wolf) to Mark Baker (The Village)--with Nick Park's Creature Comforts in passing. It's so interesting that when it lasts an hour longer than it's supposed to everyone stays, mouths open, breathless. An hour late--impossible for the Japanese!
Our films, Ahi Feijo's and mine, the audience loves, too. Whew! It's not often that I get a chance to see my films on such a large screen.
6:30 screening sold out. Gogs-Ogof by Deiniol Morris and Michael Mort, England, puppets, set in Pre-history, a succession of gags in which everyone can recognize their own stupidity--or is it just me and mine? It goes by quickly--the audience reacts wonderfully. The Simpsons--Homer Cubed, Tim Johnson, USA-- an unusual Simpsons which abandons 2D for 3D, thanks to Pacific Data Images. Small Treasures by Sarah Watts, Australia: my favorite film--Sarah is a painter-- I already saw another film of hers at Annecy, in 1991, I think. She uses rotoscope, but that doesn't bother me. Sarah tells an intimate story relevant to men as well as women: "Men make war, women give birth," says a man, and Jane, the heroine of the film, sighs ... But birth causes casualties as well. This film is all subtlety, finesse and understanding of attitudes, glances, suggestions. It is never heavy, is supported by a commentary from Jane who tells of suffering and loneliness without moralizing or whining. A true film both in conception and animation. I think it deserves a prize, maybe the Grand Prize.
Printer-friendly version
Post new comment