By: Denna Beena
Contributing Writer
I love the Oscars, I mean love. Every year I try to see as many of the nominated films as I can all the way down to ones nominated for Sound Editing. The shorts have always been frustrating because it has always been a hunt to find at least a trailer for them. That was until now. The Enzian is offering screenings of the nominated animated and live action shorts now until 2/20/2014. Each program is offered separately each day.
Fingers crossed they'll bring the documentary shorts for the full program next year. Pleeease Enzian, it would be a sweet triple screening!!
Here's the listing about the shorts from the Enzian's website:
Oscar Shorts 2014 Live Action
HeliumDENMARK, 23MIN, Director: Anders Walter
A hospital’s eccentric janitor helps a young dying boy regain the joy and happiness of life.
The Voorman Problem
UNITED KINGDOM, 13MIN, Director: Mark Gill
Doctor Williams is called in to examine the enigmatic Mr Voorman, a prisoner with a peculiar affliction: he believes he is a god. The doctor must decide on the sanity of Mr Voorman: is he a faker or a lunatic? Diagnose him insane and they can ship him off to the asylum. But before making a decision, the doctor has several questions in relation to Voorman’s claim: why would a god choose to be straitjacketed in a prison, is there a way he can validate his boast and what has any of this got to do with Belgium?
Just Before Losing Everything
FRANCE, 30MIN, Director: Xavier Legrand
While her children pretend to go to school, Miriam hurries to pick them up and take them to her work place. She explains to her boss that she has to leave the region in a rush.
That Wasn’t Me
SPAIN, 24MIN, Director: Esteban Crespo
The short film AQUEL NO ERA YO, written and directed by Spanish director Esteban Crespo, tells the story of Paula and Kaney. Two characters, an African child and a Spanish woman, who could have nothing in common, but will get to join their lives forever through a life‐giving shot.
Do I Have to Take Care of Everything?
FINLAND, 7MIN, Director: Selma Vilhunen
Mother Sini wakes up in a panic: she has slept in and the family is late for a wedding. She wakes up her husband Jokke and daughters Ella, 6, and Kerttu, 4. They start to prepare themselves in a hurry. Mother is going crazy since nobody else seems to be able to do anything right. Who has messed father’s shirt, hid girls’ dresses and the wedding gift?
Oscar Shorts 2014 Animated
Get A Horse!
USA, 6MIN, Director: Lauren MacMullan
Walt Disney Animation Studios’ innovative new short “Get A Horse!” is a contemporary homage to the first animated shorts featuring Mickey Mouse, with all-new, black-and-white, hand-drawn animation that’s paired with full-color, 3D, CG filmmaking—in the same frame. Mickey (voice of Walt Disney), his favorite gal pal Minnie Mouse and their friends Horace Horsecollar and Clarabelle Cow delight in a musical haywagon ride—until Peg-Leg Pete shows up and tries to run them off the road. This groundbreaking short takes a sharp turn when Mickey finds himself separated from Minnie and must use every trick up his sleeve to find his way back to her.
Directed by Lauren MacMullan and produced by Dorothy McKim, “Get A Horse!” is in theaters in front of “Frozen”.
Mr. Hublot
LUXEMBOURG | FRANCE, 11MIN, Director and Producer: Laurent Witz
Mr Hublot lives in a world where characters are made partially of mechanical parts, driving huge vehicles, rub shoulders with each other. A world where the giant scale of machines and the relentless use of salvaged materials reign supreme.
A withdrawn, idiosyncratic character with OCD, Mr Hublot is scared of change and the outside world. His solution: he doesn’t step foot outside his apartment! The arrival of the dog Robot Pet will turn his life upside down: he has to share his home with this very invasive companion…
Feral
USA, 13MIN, Director: Daniel Sousa
A wild boy is found in the woods by a solitary hunter and brought back to civilization. Alienated by a strange new environment, the boy tries to adapt by using the same strategies that kept him safe in the forest.
Possessions
JAPAN, 14MIN, Director and Writer: Shuhei Morita
The 18th Century. On a stormy night, deep in the mountains, a man has lost his way and comes across a small shrine. When he enters, the space suddenly turns into a room in a different world. One after another appear abandoned umbrellas, discarded kimonos, and such spectral things. The man painstakingly mends these paraphernalia, which harbor deep-seated bitterness, and brings them comfort. “How well you served people before you turned to rags. Your rest is earned.”
Room on the Broom
UNITED KINGDOM, 25MIN, Director: Max Lang & Jan Lachauer
A half hour animated film based on the wonderful children’s picture book written by Julia Donaldson and illustrated by Axel Scheffler. Room On The Broom is a magical tale about friendship and family from Magic Light Pictures, the producers of the hugely successful The Gruffalo and The Gruffalo’s Child.
A story about a kind witch who invites a surprising collection of animals to join her on her broom, much to the frustration of her cat. The gang ultimately saves the witch from a fearsome dragon, and in gratitude she rewards them with a magnificent new broom which has room for everyone. Featuring the voices of Gillian Anderson (Witch), Rob Brydon (Cat), Martin Clunes (Dog), Sally Hawkins (Bird), Simon Pegg (Narrator), Timothy Spall (Dragon), David Walliams (Frog).
