ShortsTV will release the Oscar Nominated Shorts 2021 virtually on April 2nd. The Animated and Live-Action programs will also be playing at open Landmark cinemas.
As a young movie enthusiast, it was always frustrating to watch the Oscars and see categories featuring smaller titles that were difficult to locate. Over the years, the situation has improved dramatically. Today, there are packages being released that allow curious viewers to sample shorts online and on the big screen. The work being featured is always exceptional and it is truly wonderful to see them all with relative ease. This year the tradition continues as ShortsTV will be presenting all the Oscar-nominated animated, live-action and documentary shorts on their site (some of the categories will also be available to screen at Landmark theaters that are operating).
So, for those interest about what is being offered (or want to get a sense of what each shot is about for their betting pools), here is a rundown of what you can expect to see in these packages. I’ve addressed each specific entry in alphabetical order.
Animated Shorts
As always, the Animated Shorts category offers an entertaining selection of creative tales on a wide variety of subjects. It’s a difficult chore to engage and move audiences in a brief amount of time with animated images, but most of these films do it with ease. In general, the grouping this year is a little more somber than in years past, but regardless of whether one is a fan of drama or comedy the selection is still worth anyone’s time.
Burrow (US) follows a rabbit who wants to create a perfect, isolated den. But after the lead character begins digging, problems quickly arise. Not only is the ground filled with other animal homes, but there’s a rather large and potentially dangerous water source nearby. This leads to a comic and chaotic scenario and a nice message about joining in with others and helping the community at large. It’s a zippy, fun and sweet Pixar production has the appearance of a traditionally animated 2D film, which ends up giving the short a fresh and distinctive visual style.
Genius Loci (FR) is among the most experimental efforts in the group, following a loner trying to search for personal meaning as she navigates her way through a surreal city. Although it’s never explicitly stated, there is some hint that the character may have a schizophrenia-like illness as the images spin and warp themselves around her. This is the longest short of the bunch and isn’t as immediately engaging on an emotional level, but it is interesting and does feature impressive visuals.
If Anything Happens I Love You (US) goes straight for the heart, telling the story of a despondent couple trying to deal with a tragedy and process the grief from it. The animation is minimalist, slowly revealing the details of what occurred and how those involved are dealing with the situation. Personally, for this reviewer it came on a bit too strong and piled on too much in its brief amount of time. However, this effort has received excellent write-ups from others and may be a favorite in the category.
Speaking of personal preferences, Opera (US/KR) is a wild and imaginative short that slowly unveils a strange but relatable triangle-shaped world, detailing the various lives and mechanizations working within. As the camera pans, one sees familiar elements of this home and its operation. The movie gets darker as it progresses, quietly critiquing the organization and design of both their world and ours in the process. This little gem is incredible to watch on a big screen, drawing the eyes to various little areas and scenarios as the camera slowly moves around.
For those with a quirky sese of humor, Yes-People (ICL) is an entertaining little comedy that follows the individual routines of several people living in an apartment complex. After a large snowfall, a lot of their daily activities are on full display. Their mundane behavior and strange ticks are amusing to watch as the filmmakers put all their personal eccentricities are all put on full display. This is another unique and enjoyable short.
Three other short-listed animated titles are also included. You can also see Kapaemahu (US), another excellent tale about the history behind a group of stones located in downtown Waikiki, Hawaii. To: Gerard (US) is another slick Pixar production and The Snail and the Whale (UK/DE), about a cute little snail who wants to sail the high seas, is adorable and includes a great voice cast.
Live-Action Shorts
As you might have imagined, the Live-Action film category is generally very somber and serious this year. However, several shorts tell their stories in unique and interesting ways that help effectively deliver the various themes being addressed impart important messages.
Set in New York, Feeling Through (US) follows a young man named Tereek (Steven Prescod), wander the city at night without a place to stay. He crosses paths with Artie (Robert Tarango), a blind and deaf man needing assistance getting home. Together, the two form a friendship as they attempt to communicate with each other. They end up making a lasting impression on one another despite their very brief time together. The short is well-acted and the characters make an impression, resulting in a sweet and moving little film.
The Letter Room (US) is a fascinating tale of a prison guard (Oscar Isaac) whose job involves reading and clearing incoming mail for inmates. In the process, he ends up becoming more involved in the personal lives of the convicts. When one message arrives from a significant other suggesting that she may partake in a suicide pact, the guard must decide whether to intervene. This is another interesting effort that examines and discusses the unexpected messages and intentions behind correspondence and how they can be misinterpreted.
In The Present (PS), a Palestinian father (Saleh Bakri) decides to head across a border checkpoint with his young daughter (Miriam Kanj) in order to pick up an anniversary gift for his wife. It’s a horrific experience as they are questioned and mistreated by an Israeli border guard. The return trip is even worse as the hours pass and the pair try to get their bulky gift back home. This tale effectively shows the degradations an average family must endure on a regular basis to obtain the necessities of life and compete simple errands.
Two Distant Strangers (US) is another effective tale that will probably make a big impact on Academy voting members. It follows a young man named Carter (Joey Bada$$) who is stopped by a racist cop (Andrew Howard) while leaving his girlfriend’s apartment. After being shot, Carter awakens and must repeat the same traumatic events. As the story progresses, Carter attempts all sorts of different approaches to try and escape with his life. While the general concept may remind one of the feature Groundhog Day, the powerful subject matter and unexpected plot turns make this drama stand out.
White Eye (IL) manages to tell its entire story using a single shot that follows the central character (Daniel Gad) after he discovers his stolen bicycle on a neighborhood street. He attempts to get help from the police and those around him so that he can unlock it, but after encountering all sorts of procedural roadblocks, begins to consider if the effort is worth all the trouble. It’s another tense and impressive short.
Documentary Shorts
And of course, the Documentary selections are also remarkably informative. As you might have guessed, these clips also all deal with traumatic and horrible events, so viewers should be prepared for some heavy material.
Colette (US) follows an elderly woman who served in the French resistance as a young girl during WWII. After losing her brother during the conflict 80 years ago, she heads to Germany for the first time ever to visit the concentration camp where he lost his life. It’s an emotional journey as Colette explains her reasons for staying away, how she helped her family fight against the Nazis and how she feels while visiting the site where her brother’s life was taken. Old photographs are also displayed to show the horrors the prisoners endured. Overall, the movie makes a strong impression.
A Concerto is a Conversation (US) takes viewers to Los Angeles and details a young and successful African-American composer as he meets with his cancer-stricken grandfather to learn as much family history as he can in the time they have left. The patriarch details living in the south and escaping to California to start a new and better life. He details how he was able to get around more hurdles and ultimately succeed. It’s a very pleasing tale as the composer starts to realize just how influential his grandfather was in his own life.
The 2019 Hong Kong citizens stood up to protest against the growing power and influence of mainland China. Their actions are detailed in Do Not Split (NOR/US). The filmmakers capture stunning footage from the middle of the protests and show conflicts between different factions and the police. You’ll also see a group of students being boxed in at Hong Kong Polytechnic University’s campus as they try to fend off armed police forces. We see everything up to and through the current pandemic (which has caused a pause in the protests). The documentary certainly shows viewers what it feels like to be in the middle of the bedlam and, for this reviewer, is one of the strongest films of the batch.
Hunger Ward (US) photographs intimate details of the humanitarian crisis in Yemen. Military strikes have left the country in ruins and starvation is running rampant among the population. The short displays the work of managers and practitioners in a hospital that treats the most severe cases of child malnutrition. It’s tragic to watch the fates of some of these infants and the images of them suffering is truly disturbing to witness. We also see the toll the work takes on the physicians and the unwarranted blame that falls on them despite all their efforts to help. This is another powerful feature.
Finally, A Love Song for Latasha (US) is a Netflix release. It tells the true story of a young woman who was unjustly shot in South Central Los Angeles by a gun-toting store owner while attempting to purchase some orange juice. Her sister remembers her experiences with the teenager and describes her sibling’s dreams and aspirations that were suddenly ended by the terrible act.
While every viewer will likely have their own individual favorites, all the shorts in the three recommended collections are expertly made and most certainly worth checking out if you have the time.