I’ll be honest with you guys, I didn’t like this. It was a bit like a VT from Sesame Street. At the same time it was also like one of those late night cartoons you sometimes find that have lo-fi scratchy animation but which don’t really go anywhere sufficiently coherent or entertaining enough to justify a larger, mainstream audience.
It also wasn’t really about her home town and was just about her house where she lived, so personally I think it has a tenuous hold on the My Winnipeg remit. What do you reckon?
As the piece was driven by it’s voiceover I guess that means the writing is also up for critique. I thought it was really weak and its delivery a little grating. “Oh that’ll be dinner – better get back upstairs,” was a particularly weak point for me. It just felt like I was being read a children’s story. It’s not that I don’t love children’s books, but I didn’t like the writing here. The content was a little bit limp and generic in its evocation of childhood. All the talk of snowflakes and being scared of monsters was familiar, cliched ground, and there were no real flourishes or turns of phrase to reinvigorate and make these cliché’s fresh and new.
The juxtoposition of imagery with the words likewise did nothing to create any original sparks. I can deal with delicate, deftly rendered pieces but this was so watery and diluted that there was no real emotional or visual friction. I’m a real bastard, aren’t I? Sorry, I guess this just wasn’t for me. You might like it.
Remember though, never take anyone’s criticism personally. I am just one viewer. The world of film and TV is a Hiroshima of rejection so get used to it and grow a thick skin. You didn’t make your film for the ones who don’t like it you made it for the ones that do like it. That’s what I say each time I get a sprinkling of hate mail amidst the praise after each film I make is put out there. I just wish the ones who send the praise were more eloquent sometimes than the ones who send me hates.
Comments
Goodness that is very a harsh review, is there any constructive advice you would offer to the filmmaker?
I however sit on the other side of the fence and really liked this film- (I also like scratchy lo-fi cartoons on late night tv, probably for the very reason that they were never made for a large mainstream). It was great to see an entirely animated entry in the comp- and felt there was a great visual style to the film. Although the animation used is not complex I enjoyed the simple aesthetics of the visuals and thought that this matched the subject matter.
I always find it refreshing to see people move away from the style of animation that permeates the mainstream all to often.
Although in parts I would draw comparables more with the animation of Len Lye (Colourbox in particular ) than Sesame Street VT- however considering photographer William Wegman and artist Keith Harring created VT segments for the show I guess its kind of a compliment!
I’m thoroughly enjoying these reviews by Lee Kern. Though I can’t say the same about some of his work which I’ve seen on C4 and on this site.
I still think the problem lies in the theme “your home town” It doesn’t seem to have inspired people at all. I think it has squashed the soul.
Its good to hear other peoples points of view of the films. I would have liked to have seen a review for all of the films entered.
Will all films entered be reviewed?
Also when will the short list be announced?
The competition doesnt seem to be communicating 100 per cent with the audience and the film makers that took part.
SJ
Hey Sarah Jane – Lee will be reviewing the 12 films that have been shortlisted. There has actually been a lot of communication with everyone who took part, both from me and Marie from Soda pictures. Did you enter a film – I didn’t see your name submitted? Everyone who entered the competition was emailed the shortlist as soon as it was decided, and for everyone else you get to see it unfold before your eyes, as we put up one a day. What do you think of the films you’ve seen so far?
Nice film!
Hi Sarah, I’m sorry that you feel that we have not been communicating fully with yourselves about the competition. If you have any specific comments on thoughts on how we could have better passed information on then I’d love to hear from you direct via marie ‘at’ sodapictures ‘dot’ com.
As for the reviews- in an ideal world we would have loved to have reviewed all the films but with the wealth of those submitted its just not possible, but I’m really pleased that Rebecca and Lee have been able to provide such lengthy and in depth reviews of the final twelve. If you want to find out about the other 12 then visit, http://www.sodapictures.com/blog/?p=84
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