Supervenus

This is what a short film should be. Perfectly balanced elements and a pace that ramps up gradually while leaving you completely engaged the whole three minutes. A variety of messages can be read into the subject matter of course but it can also be enjoyed aesthetically without deep analysis of themes such as the unrealistic expectation of unattainable feminine 'beauty' standards. I didn't expect it to get so graphic & it's amazing.

simplicity is a beautiful virtue for each short film. in this case, it represents more than an inspired choice. because it reminds Gulliver travels. same bitter irony, same precise diagnosis. it is a film about beauty. or about appearances. or about body as clay. and the final fall. nothing new. nothing surprising. and this does "Supervenus" a must see one.

Supervenus is a proof that, to make a good animated film, you don't need much money, many special effects, much cuteness or any CGI. To make a good short film you need to have a good idea in mind and be able to carry it out on the screen by the use of a specific narrative and visuals. This is what Supervenus does in a master-class of simplicity: simple animation techniques, no words, and just two characters -- the image of a Venus and the hands of a plastic surgeon.

This is a horror story that starts as a cute modification of the image of a traditional nude woman, a Venus. We see the change in the transformation of female beauty ideals as per the surgeon's scalpel.

What makes this film chilling is that, most of the things depicted in the story, are not invented horror happenings, but something that women do to themselves voluntarily on a daily basis. It is also chilling because it shows the objectification of the female body in a destructive progression, all in the name of beauty.

The message is strong, powerful and clear despite no words being uttered. The opinion of the director seems to be that of common sense, of somebody who documents something happening with a note of sarcasm and irony: Nature is wise, you will see that the natural Venus is beautiful, it has perfection in her singularity and "imperfections".

If you are a woman you will certainly relate to the short. If you belong to the new generation of women who believe that having a normal body is the source of your insecurities, and that turning you into plastic container is the solution to your poor self-image, this short is not for you, clearly.

The short becomes a bit gory the more it advances, so beware.