There is no way to describe this so that it will not sound like something you are simultaneously not interested in watching but at the same time interested in watching. A man in a canary outfit sits at the edge of a cliff behind a small desk. He watches as other people in animal outfits come up to the edge of the cliff and throw themselves off – making a tally in his book of what animal died and treating himself to a jelly bean corresponding to the animal suit that just jumped. Okay so at once it sounds both fascinating but yet also deliberately "deep" and odd, right?
Well the truth is that both those feeling are correct because this is a film that is odd and doesn't shy away from that, but it is also a film that is fascinating in its point and the way in which it delivers it. I am sure many others will have their own opinions but since IMDb has no comments on this title, I guess mine will have to do. To me it speaks to the silent, semi-curious apathy to the deaths of others who don't immediately affect us; we watch on the news and we remember numbers but not too much more than that – it doesn't seem real. It is only when our own mortality is brought into focus by our own suffering or a death close to us, that we can feel something. Like I said, this is my personal take and if this is the case then it is hardly an earth- shattering takeaway.
However the manner of delivery is what engages. Visually it is striking in its sparseness – not just of the landscape but of the jumpers themselves, silently falling past camera. The suits idea could be accused of being deliberately weird or hipsterish, but it does work as an image and tool – for sure you do not forget the images. The rotoscope animation works really well and I liked its realistic movement combined with colourful otherworldlyness. The soundtrack and presentation style very much sets off the mood which is dark but thoughtful.
It is a deliberately odd film and I'm sure it will push many away as a result; for me I will not pretend it all worked and that I was able to totally get past all these things, however it was engaging in its delivery and tone, with a narrative which is worth lingering on after the bright yellow closing credits fade to black.
