OSCAR SHORTS 2004
(A) Torzija
Directed by: Stefan Arsenijevic. Slovenia. 15 min.
Harvie Krumpet
Directed by: Adam Elliot. Australia. 22 min.
Nibbles
Directed by: Chris Hinton. Canada. 5 min.
The Red Jacket
Directed by: Florian Baxmeyer. Germany. 18 min.
Squash
Directed by: Lionel Bailliu. France. 27 min.
Released by: Apollo Cinema

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
March 26, 2004