Length: 05:46
Logline: A quiet schoolboy is befriended by the worst guy in class.
I wanted to review this film for a while but have struggled to realise what exactly it was I wanted to say about it. I liked it immediately but wasn't sure for what reasons. The story is both compelling and uncomfortable, containing a truthful social realistic tone. I guess it reminded me of Iain Bank's 'The Wasp Factory' or something.
Each of the characters are recognisable. Nathan the overbearing control freak with no social skills and Kristian, the vulnerable and impressionable loner desperate to be accepted. We're pretty much watching what happens when a kid gets in with the wrong crowd at school and I'm going to presume that this is a tad biographic due to the protagonist sharing the same name and voice of the animator plus the 1980's-esque setting.
There's a strong opening with a defining statement given by Kristian. The story then takes us structurally back to the beginning of the tale where he first encounters Nathan. Although the film starts with Kristian delivering narration, there's no bookending or conclusive statement narrated at the end. When the film takes us full circle and returns to that opening scene, it's difficult to gauge whether Kristian has really changed during the course of it. Hanging around with bad boy Nathan seems to have encouraged him to carry out delinquent behaviour and his confidence has also increased, although Nathan likes to keep that bit suppressed. Yet he still retains his initial sensitivity which is shown in his compassion towards the dying rabbit. Nathan also seems unchanged, having none of Kristian's better qualities rub off on him.
The drawing in this is animation is mostly simplistic black line drawing on white background with some limited colour usage. As well as creating a stylised overlap of foreground and background images, the background also contains some nice negative space fillers. Movement is conveyed very well, particularly vehicles. When colour is used, it is often in blocks and does a good job of enhancing tone and mood. The audio has also been well thought out, both in terms of dialogue and environment. Regional dialect is used and all voice actors are competent, believable and natural. Dialogue is sparing but effective.
I guess I don't mind that the story doesn't really go anywhere. Why I really enjoyed this was because it shares some familiar elements from my own experiences growing up; the pellet gun phase, the nose bone into the brain fact that became common knowledge and the dark nights in front of the ZX SPectrum. It's like a trip down memory lane, except for the killing rabbit stuff like.
Best Bit: This aint no Watership Down.
Worst Bit: Has anyone really changed?
Final thought: You know, I think I had that ZX Spectrum game once upon a time.
Read a condensed review of this film on Twitter here.
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