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Reviews of Recent Independent, Foreign, & Documentary Films in Theaters and DVD/Home Video
OSCAR SHORTS 2004
The 2004 Oscar Shorts is a superb
collection of five nominated short films. Whether animated or live action, all
five keep your eyes glued to the screen.
"The Red Jacket" starts out with a father being informed of the loss of
his
son. In grief, the father throws away the red jacket that had
been worn by his son at the time of the tragic accident. The jacket is
collected, cleaned, and sent to Sarajevo. Throughout this
tragic story, the red jacket travels through various trials and
tribulations, yet finally and surprisingly finds its way back home.
In "(A) Torzija," a choir leader (who is also a non-licensed
vet)
waits for safe passage through a tunnel for himself and his choir during
wartime. Meanwhile, a
nearby farmer's cow has an emergency: a difficult delivery. Not knowing what
to do, the farmer begs the choir leader to save his cow. The choir leader
reluctantly decides to help, takes the rein and orders his choir to sing -
to distract the cow from the air raid. The
juxtaposition of choir music and the cow’s delivery is awkwardly funny, the
intensity and seriousness of the setting is not.
With its strong sense of humor, the moving Claymated "Harvie Krumpet"
rightfully deserved the Oscar. Harvie is a Polish boy with
Tourette's syndrome born to a schizophrenic mother. Bullied in school, he
is mostly educated by his unstable but knowledgeable mother.
However, his life changes one day as he finds his house burned, his parents
frozen outside. Although he seems to be a magnet to all unfortunate
things in life, he learns to appreciate the possibilities of his limited
potential.
The second animated short, the fast-paced "Nibbles," depicts a simple fishing
expedition by a father and his sons,
who
make numerous stops at gas stations and diners.
The animation is quite primitive, propelled by an adrenaline-running rhythm.
Finally, "Squash" is a very French film about an employer and his employee
in a squash match. The boss insists involving business in the game by wagering
the employee's job according to the outcome. What
begins as a recreational match evolves to be an excruciating psychological
battle.
This collection offers such a rich list of straightforward and memorable
stories
that The 2004 Oscar Shorts is, without question, worth seeing. Hazuki Aikawa, journalist, director of the documentary Yancha
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