The concept of MANON ON THE ASPHALT the effect a woman's life had on those around her in the moment she dies, as seen by the nearly departed is slightly affected and literary, but the execution as visual and emotional little film. Of the five live action short Academy Award nominees, this is the only one that choked me up. Like AMELIE, Manon (we barely know her, actually) is a spritely Parisienne with a wide range of friends, neighbors and family, all of whom care about her. What's remarkable, of course, is that neither Manon nor those in her circle are "special" they are just like everyone else, as complex and human and quirky as anyone. The film taps into a universality of life with clarity and heart without becoming cloying. I can't imagine someone not nodding in acknowledgment or familiarity at many of the events and personalities. My vote for the Oscar.
