I watched 'Twins in paradise' anticipating a somewhat warped story, and my expectations were met: This is quite the little trip.
Director Victoria Vincent's animation style is simple and unpretentious, with characters and entire scenes appearing as little more than sketches. That's all it needs to be, though; hers isn't a form to impress with wondrous visuals, but to convey a story. And that it does, very effectively, without need for great detail.
There are some eye-catching narrative beats here, including visual realization of battling one's inner demons, and journeys to a hallucinatory wonderland. Still, the power of 'Twins in paradise' isn't as much in what it plainly shows as in what it conveys, and this short is full of vivid, compelling themes. This is an exploration, in an abbreviated yet expansive way, of the pressure put on young stars, and on women of all ages; of the ways we struggle to combat that which haunts us in life; of the sway held over us by parents even when they are absent; of the expectations we put on ourselves and others, and of our tendency to lash out when those expectations aren't met.
The 9-minute feature has a lot to say. But ultimately it's also about figuring out what's really important, and holding onto it. And above all, it's about the absurdity of life and society putting us through all these experiences even while the world around us falls apart.
If that's not the very quintessence of the endless year 2020, and of our times generally, then I don't know what is. For as uncomplicated as 'Twins in paradise' appears superficially, it is surprisingly ambitious in its scope.
Mention must be made as well of the music here. Though never stealing attention away from the visuals or narrative, due credit to R. I. P. For their contribution. As events escalate on-screen, so the simple chords in the background build, echoing the tension and cathartic release we're watching. Sometimes music doesn't need to stand out on its own to be worthy - its complementary function here is perfect.
I came across 'Twins in paradise' only by happenstance, but I'm very glad I did. It may not look like much at first blush, but this is a grabbing story we can all relate to, and which at its conclusion is as stark in its visuals as in the final emotional punch.
Very well done!
