Opal is just as layered as most feature length films, yet runs at a concise twelve minutes or so.
This claymation short follows a wide-eyed little girl named Opal, who lives with her doting family. She slips out of bed one night to explore a creepy, derelict house across the street despite her parents' gentle warnings not to. There, she encounters four things.
An obese, blind older man, glued to a recliner and listening to television all day. He smokes to the point of being unable to speak without wheezing and coughing up blood.
A younger man constantly preening himself in front of a half-dozen mirrors, convinced that one day he'll look perfect, and show "them" how wrong "they" were to turn him down.
A woman laying in bed in a drug and alcohol induced haze, mumbling to herself about how much she sacrifices.
And the horrible, horrible truth that lies up in the attic.
The short explores themes of escapism, abuse and neglect, but in a fairly nuanced way. While the three strangers Opal encounters are undeniably awful people, they are also pitiable to the point of being almost sympathetic.
The short has several short musical numbers as well, which are all excellent. "Easy to Breathe," sung by the old man, is a melancholy yet oddly upbeat song about how the old man feels important and loved by the fake friendliness of television. "Virtuous Cycle," sung by the woman, is a disturbing lullaby about the codependency between a daughter and negligent mother. My personal favorite is "Mirror Man," sung by the younger man, a flamboyant, fast-paced and manic song about the younger man's simultaneous self-loathing and narcissism. All of this is bookended by the pleasant, old fashioned sounding "We See You, Opal," sung by Opal's family.
Do yourself a favor and go watch this short. It's short, sweet and poignant, darkly funny yet achingly sad. Well worth a few minutes of your time.
