Dcera (Czechia)
3.5 stars out of 5
Daughter/dad story #1, told in an intriguing, dark papier-mâché-esque style. Grown-up daughter reflects back on her relationship with her father back in the day. Impressive, though I had a little trouble following the exact details of this one.
Hair Love (USA)
3 stars out of 5
Daughter/dad story #2, told in a bland, “TV animation” style. Little girl needs father’s help to get her hair did, with humorous results (and an eye-rolling cat), to a heartfelt conclusion. Sweet but it all felt a little pat and mainstream.
Kitbull (USA)
3 stars out of 5
Cat and dog become friends, which I guess is interesting if you’ve never seen a cartoon before. Animation is pretty good, reminiscent of end-of-classic-era Warner Brothers.
Memorable (France)
4.5 stars out of 5
At first I was thinking, uggh, yet another Alzheimer’s story. But this short perfectly meshes form with content, as we witness the sad but fascinating deterioration of an artist’s mind, along with the emotional impact on his wife. The Claymation-y style lends itself nicely to smears and globs of paint, and the artist’s increasingly surreal view of his surroundings. Art with heart, and my pick for the Oscar winner.
Sister (USA)
3 stars out of 5
A man looks back on growing up in China, especially memories of his often-annoying younger sister. Ah, but there is a twist. (Isn’t there always?) Kinda cool “wool” black-and-white appearance, though the characters looked a little like low-rent Muppets. The whole thing left me a bit cold.
“HIGHLY COMMENDED” BUT NOT NOMINATED
Henrietta Bulkowski (USA)
3 stars out of 5
Was hoping this tale of a hunchback woman who wants to fly planes was based on a true story, but alas, it is yet another sappy “it’s OK to be different/you can achieve whatever you set out to do” story. Chris Cooper, Christina Hendricks, and Ann Dowd as star voice talent couldn’t earn this a nomination.
Hors Piste (France)
3.5 stars out of 5
The funniest film of the bunch, nominated or not. Two dudes, one tall, one short, attempt a mountaintop ski rescue and it’s slapstick fun all the way down. Kind of mainstream/Pixar-looking, so this is my guess what the Ice Age movies are like.
Maestro (France)
3.5 stars out of 5
Beautifully rendered animals and highly entertaining. Proves that it’s OK for short films to be short!
Jack Silbert, curator