Fauve

Saw this at the MSPIFF and I can't stop thinking about how beautiful it was! The acting is superb. The script is a masterpiece and the cinematography is breathtaking. All of the post production is done beautifully as well. A must see if you get the chance!

It reminds me the short stories by Dumitru Radu Popescu. Same atmosphere, same construction of tension, same end. A game in, maybe summer holiday , familiar to large public. Two boys, a train, an open - pit. And something changing the innocence of run, jokes, joy. Admirable young actors and inspired presence of the fox. Great cinematography and wise use of symbols.

Today I went to the annual showing of the Oscar Nominated Live Action Shorts. I've gone to these showings for at least a decade and must admit that this year's batch was the most god-awful films....all of them very depressing and a few so depressing that I left the theater wanting to shoot myself!! Among the five films, "Fauve" gets my pick for the second most depressing and awful short. The acting is really, really good....the story was about as enjoyable an experience as eating glass.

The story involves two French-Canadian kids who are playing around some dangerous places. Of all the places, however, the worst turns out to be a construction-like setting. While the place appears abandoned, it isn't and the boys end up hiding in a quarry. The bottom of it, surprisingly, is like quicksand--and soon the two boys become stuck and seriously in risk of drowning. What's next? Remember...the film is depressing!

The acting by the kids is really nice--and that's why I appreciated the film even though I hated watching it. However, I also think it's the weakest of the five films and cannot see how it was nominated nor do I think it has a huge chance of winning. I also thought the symbolism about the fox near the end felt a bit pretentious.

Fauve is one short film that will stick with you long after your first viewing. By exploring universal themes of youth, control and nature, the film quickly demands your attention and never lets go. The striking performances from the two boys feel both genuine and terrifying. The character development of these two over the 14 min time span is seamless and justified.

All in all, with the help of a dazzling score and gorgeous cinematography, Fauve offers a great exploration that you shouldn't miss, short film enthusiasts or not!

Very well made short with some great performances by the child actors! Despite the tragic content I couldn't stop thinking about how as a child I was terrified by quicksand and how I never encountered it in my entire life.