Grapefruit & Heat Death!

An astronomy lesson . Intense, precise, powerful. More a warning. Admirable special effects, inspired trip across fundamental life aspects and a great message. As teacher, I saw the film as a wise exploration of the essence of teach- the so desired fascination and reflection of students about the lesson who, in profound sense, is just about them.

GRAPEFRUIT & HEAT DEATH! Shows us a lecture on the long-term fate of the universe through the eyes of a student attracted to a girl sitting next to him.

There are many bold and thought-provoking comparisons here: human bonds with those that hold the solar system together, the idea that bliss might seem forever but could already be doomed along with everything else and without us knowing it yet, the finiteness of a human lifetime with the seeming infinity of the universe ending in heat death. For those who have pondered the meaning of life, this is a small treasure trove of ideas.

The effects are well-done and all the more impressive considering that they were mostly practical. The idea of fruits standing in for celestial bodies could have gone wrong, but was executed in a manner that fit the overall tone, filtered through the lens of a teenage boy's view of the world.

This is a very creative short film which tackles hefty issues in a humorous manner, although I suspect it takes a certain philosophical temperament to really appreciate it.