Short films 2 Kplus

Chinti

D: Natalia Mirzoyan

Russian Federation 2012, 8 min, English, age recommendation: 10 years and up

A determined little Indian ant discovers the picture of a splendid-looking building amongst the rubbish on the beach and can think of nothing else. She makes it her life’s work to build the Taj Mahal from all different kinds of detritus. An animation film composed almost entirely of tea leaves – in various colours and textures.

Papa's Tango

R: Michiel van Jaarsveld

Netherlands 2011, 15 min, Dutch, age recommendation: 10 years and up

Papa was her very first dance partner. As soon as she was born he took Hannah in his arms and rocked her. Papa comes from Argentina; a musician, he has tango in his blood. Hannah likes him very much, even if they can’t meet every day. It’s tough when he leaves Holland to return to his own country. But there is a way to stay close.

Caochang (Schoolyard)

R: Qi Wang

People's Republic of China 2011, 17 min, Shanghainese, age recommendation: 10 years and up

A boyish prank on a dismal school playground goes horribly awry and a schoolgirl is baldy injured. Only one of the boys involved tries to help her. But his attempt to take responsibility for his actions gets lost in the self-centred hubbub generated by the mothers and teachers. Shot in one continuous take, the film explores the meaning of truth and reality – not just in terms of content but also on a formal level.

Julian

R: Matthew Moore

Australia 2011, 13 min, English, age recommendation: 10 years and up

Nine-year-old Julian is an attentive, precise boy who likes to line up his pens neatly on his desk. When a girl complains to him about the other kids’ misbehaviour, he informs the teacher right away. The teacher sends him off to the headmaster, but Julian doesn’t find that fair at all. What is to become of such a boy?

Bardo

R: Marija Apchevska

Macedonia 2011, 14 min, Macedonian, age recommendation: 10 years and up

A little girl feels out of place at a funeral. While the bereaved adults stand about stiffly with grim faces the little girl runs off and is given a balloon as a gift outside the cemetery. The girl returns to the funeral procession; she is delighted because the face on her balloon reminds her of the deceased, her own father. BARDO is a Tibetan word meaning ‘in-between state’; the film invites the viewer to take a more light-hearted approach to death.

Rising Hope

R: Milen Vitanov

Germany 2012, 10 min, no language, age recommendation: 10 years and up

A good-hearted racehorse wins one race after another, making his jockey a champ. But the only lush green meadows he knows are the images on the flat screen monitor in his horse box. Then something goes wrong and nothing seems to work any more. Left in the lurch by his owner, the horse finds himself having to stand on his own four legs. But his longing for nature gives him untold strength. A humorous animation about the love of fresh grass.