Radheya Jegatheva / Australia / 9 minutes
Synopsis
A lonely seagull looking for love takes a shine to a drone. Alas, the chosen one is human-operated and its life depends on a battery.
There are films that make us disagree, hesitate, discuss. And others like this one, for which it is obvious: everyone gets enchanted!
« Bird Drone » is a mute animated short-film that gives lots of emotions to the audience within a few minutes. The seagull-protagonist’s adventures unexpectedly make us laugh, cry, think, and move us. Never silly or ridiculous, Clare Toonen’s scenario starts with a great initial idea and handles humour as well as poetry, intimism as well as epic, and this without a word. Thus in the end, the 9 minutes seem quite short! Concurrently appears a double meaning, about human relationships and our link with technology, but we will leave it to the viewers to discover it (if they don’t want to stick to the literal vision of this charming epic-romance).
As for the technique, it's a flawless performance. Animation is flowing and colourful, sound-design impeccable. The very inventive directing uses every possible mean to strengthen the story and intensify the impact: very various framings, symbolic shots, dynamic editing, transitions— Radheya Jegatheva is careful about everything and, without falling into the trap of pedantry, signs a little piece of cinema that proves to be meaty and clever even in the end credits.
Conclusion
Just as this adorable seagull with its drone: for us, « Bird Drone » was love at first sight.
O.N-P.
« Bird Drone » joins official selection for the Little Croco Festival’s first edition, nominated in the Romance category.
Trailer:
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