Love and War

I agree with the other reviewers - this short film initially came across as a rather bizarre screening. However, it actually turned out to be an adorable and winning short movie. Hands down, favorite part about this film was its operatic and orchestral soundtrack. Its sweet melodies and moments of lilting, swaying waltz made the music its own art within this film. The Italian singing was beyond lovely and was instrumental in creating a little bit of character development. A perfectly done soundtrack, in my opinion. The plot, though almost exactly fitting into a clique and hackneyed category (this is where some points came off), was made by Emilson into something much more exquisite. The great use of composition and color was eye-catching and memorable, and the animals, though confessedly a little bit strange, made the film unique. Overall, "Love and War" was a really nice feel-good film that I would not mind listening to or watching again!

I saw this wonderful short film at the 2007 Palm Springs International Festival of Short films. This film at the Los Angeles Film Festival this spring won Best Animated/Experimental Short Film. This is a lavish stop motion production using animal puppets and digital compositing. Some location scenes were shot in Cuba. This is the story of Bunny, a nurse and Bear, a fighter pilot whose love and lives are torn by the outbreak of a distant, nameless, war. This film bills itself as possibly the first animated operatic short film and it probably is. Swedish Director Fredrik Emilson takes his classically trained music background into the world of film in this short that he directed, wrote, edited, photographed and even wrote the operatic score. This guy is obviously a genius who recently was chosen to compose the opening piece for the prestigious Nordic Music Festival. It took him over a year to put this 15 minute film together but even he couldn't do it all so joining him in it's production are Jonathan Edström, Andreas Franck and Leif Westerlund who were the sound team of the Academy Award nominated feature foreign film Så i himmelen (As it is in Heaven.) Performing Emilson's original score are the Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra and the Royal Swedish Opera Chorus. People who don't like opera will enjoy this score. It's a pop friendly opera. Emilson was on hand for the Palm Springs film screening for an audience Q & A. Of the 46 short film I saw at the festival I didn't expect one from the animated category to be my festival favorite but this was. I would give it a 9.5 out of 10.

Wow, was I bowled over by this short film. To think that I would love an opera using anthropomorphic animals!? Considering that I am not a particular fan of opera, that's saying a lot! This is the film about two lovers, Bunny and Bear. In the warm-blooded world they live in, they are deliriously in love and happy. However, when war breaks out with the cold-bloods, he is called off to war and the viewer is left wondering if the two lovers will ever again be reunited.

As you read the summary above, you probably notice that the plot seems awfully familiar--perhaps even clichéd. However, don't be fooled--the film is brilliant as it brings this story to life and the viewer practically to tears using some of the best stop-motion film work I have ever seen. And on top of that, the music was terrific--fitting the action perfectly. And to think that Frederik Emilson did all this practically alone--writing the music, writing, producing and directing this epic animated short. It must have taken years, as the final product is simply stunning and I wish I could have seen this on the big screen.

A terrific film in every way. It's available as a very inexpensive download if you are interested.