It has been said short films are a space for artists to push the creative envelope.
If this year's Oscar-nominated short-film collection is any indication, these little gems can pack a heap of cinematic wallop.
There is a lot to dig into with the diverse 2009 lineup.
This year's animated short category includes five films: "La Maison en Petits Cubes," "This Way Up," "Lavatory-Lovestory," "Oktapodi" and "Presto."
However, if you go see the shorts in the theater, you'll also be able to view the highly commended films "Varmints," "John and Karen," "Gopher Broke," "Skhizein" and "Hot Dog."
I won't delve into each film - suffice it to say that there is a lot to be said about each one.
But I can divide the films into two groups: those that bored me and those I actually enjoyed.
You are first presented with "Lavatory-Lovestory," a very basic animation consisting of simple, clean, black lines on a white canvas.
The back-to-basics style of animation is commendable; but the plot line is inherently boring and dismissible.
Later, you'll encounter "Gopher Broke" and "Hot Dog," each animation concerning animals overcoming odds.
While "Hot Dog" had some lo-fi quirky fun to it, "Gopher Broke" had expensive animation that was simply a waste of time and money. Granted, the two aren't actually Oscar nominees.
Concerning the good stuff, I would acclaim "Le Maison en Petits Cubes" as being my personal favorite.
The story is of an old man reconciling with his past. Translated through sketchy and warm animation, it is entirely bittersweet.
Close in second and third places would be "This Way Up" - a technical masterpiece - and "Skhizein," a clever work focusing on a man living with his physical body 91 centimeters from his spiritual one.
"John and Karen" had me giggling like a school girl all the way through. You certainly will too, if you have ever experienced the awkward and ultimately hilarious situation of a man apologizing to his woman after an argument.
"Oktapodi" and "Presto" are fun and quirky slapstick comedies, while "Varmints" includes enough technical finesse and haunting visuals to log happily into your long-term memory.
The live-action shorts (short films with human actors) are a lineup of equal importance. There are only five films featured in this section, and this group encompasses markedly different attitudes than the animated shorts.
All have some element of sadness to them, but most showcase a full range of emotions - something remarkably difficult to squeeze into 30 minutes or less.
My favorite would be "Manon on the Asphalt," a bright and colorful examination of a young-woman's life after a bicycle accident.
This film shines in its simplicity. In 15 minutes, the French director delivers more heart and soul than in countless two-hour American feature films.
"The Pig," a comedy of a man obsessed with a painting of a pig hung on a hospital wall, will make you smile all the way through.
"Auf Der Strecke" devotes a little too much time to its lingering moments, but ultimately executes its point relatively well.
"New Boy" rides out nicely but encompasses little innovation, while "Toyland" fails to explore an original Holocaust-era topic.
These films are a blast to sit down in a theater and watch. As soon as you think you have one film figured out, the next one begins.
For avid movie lovers, the Oscar shorts provide a decidedly different theater experience well off the beaten path, but very well worth your time.
Take a couple of hours and enjoy them this week at the Tivoli Theater in Westport.
clight@unews.com
