You know when you watch the Oscars and at the end you have this horrible let-down feeling because the films that won were not the films that should have won... well, this is not that story.
I was at the Ottawa International Animation Festival when they awarded "Ryan" the Grand Prize for Best Short Film. This was a film that had been getting a considerable amount of press and one might believe that it won because it was a media darling... but like I said, this is not that story. After seeing it, there was no doubt in my mind this was the best film at the Festival.
At the beginning of the film, director Chris Landreth (in the form of his CG character) explains that the wounds we are seeing on himself and the other characters in the film represent inner damage. While Chris' wounds are present, he remains essentially whole. This is why when we see Ryan Larkin's character for the first time his appearance is so striking. There is barely any flesh left of this man and we are immediately struck by Ryan's immense pain. We know this is a man who has suffered enormously.
As Chris interviews Ryan, we learn a bit more about 'Ryan the gifted animator' as well as hints of Ryan as a 'tortured soul'. I have to say this is the first piece of animation in a while that nearly brought me to tears. The amazing part is that it wasn't really what they were saying--the interview dialogue itself remains fairly factual--but the subtle imagery hints at the story behind the story. It is the stuff written visually between the lines that moved me far more than I expected.
So, my sincere congratulations to "Ryan"... no short film I have seen has ever been more deserving.
/ 2 reviews)
Reviews for Ryan
