The Acorn Penny

The film was a standout in the shorts program I saw in LA, and that in itself is an achievement, as there were many powerful films screening that night. The filmmaker tackles dark, complicated issues through the innocent and curious eyes of a child, which is obviously no small task. It was touching and evocative without ever preaching or talking down to its audience. And, most significantly, it was visually dynamic and very imaginative. Great creative use of animation and digital effects to emphasize the wonder and amazement of a child. Normally I don't jump at child- oriented stories, but here Kinshasa's experience was the perfect prism for exploring the filmmaker's subject matter, and the cast was stellar. I'm looking forward to more from this creative team!