Letter to a Pig

Tal Kantor's "Letter to a Pig" is a haunting short film about an elderly Holocaust survivor recounting his escape from the Nazis to a classroom full of bickering students who are unaware of just how grave the situation was. He talks about how his life was saved by a pig, and proceeds to read a letter he wrote to the pig in gratitude.

With its expert handling of the heavy subject matter, and the extra care for nuance, this short film delivers with beautiful animation, an ambiguous yet resolute statement on generational trauma. With a keen script and a fittingly unconventional style of animation, this short film provides more in its 16-minutes of runtime than we could have expected.

One of the film's greatest strengths is its nuanced portrayal of the relationship between Lucy and Wilbur. Through subtle gestures and interactions, Kantor delves into the depths of interspecies communication, challenging conventional notions of companionship and understanding.

The screenplay, penned by Kantor, is a masterclass in storytelling. Drawing inspiration from the works of Robert McKee and Syd Field, the narrative unfolds with a perfect balance of tension and release. Each scene is meticulously crafted to propel the story forward while allowing room for character development and thematic exploration.

At its core, "Letter to a Pig" is a meditation on the universal human desire for connection and belonging. By examining the bonds that form between unlikely companions, Kantor invites viewers to reflect on their own relationships and the power of empathy to bridge divides.

A Holocaust survivor reads a letter he wrote to a pig to a class of bored students. He tells of how he was chased into a pig sty and hid there for weeks while bad men sought him to kill him. One of the students drifts off into a fantasy of catching the pig -- the symbol of all that is non-kosher and thus evil -- and tormenting it.

There's some merit to this movie as the images waver between sketches and reality, and contains some valid symbolic content about the validity of symbols to judge reality: meta-symbols, if you would. I would say this is the least likely to win the 2024 Oscar for best animated short subject, as it is a French-ISRAELI co-production.

For so many reasons, a masterpiece.

A venerable man, surviver of Shoah, confessing his experience in time of Nazi period, reading behind the students a letter to its savior.

Teens reactions.

A girl developing, in her thoughts, with imagination and sensitivity, the narrated story of old Haim.

One of great short animations for technical effects serving, in beautiful - wise manner, a powerful, profound powerful message about animals ( and not the most appreciated in Jewish culture one ), about fear, refuge and evil, about cruelty of young people ( as teacher, I know it so welll...) and about the fair form of revenge, about grattitude and choices. About memory . So, pure masterpiece for reason only feeled.

Beautifully done and portrayed . A masterpiece in my eyes. The title surprised me initially and then I watched it and what a heartwarming and also poignant experience it truly was. I know this is in the short film category but somehow I just wish it was longer, there are films that transport you to worlds of whimsical fantasy, this isn't one of them so I was a little hesitant about watching it and yet even though it could have been so disturbing, considering the topic, it wasn't, it is done with extreme sensitivity. I am very proud of the creators, the director, producers and entire team. I hope it receives all the accolades I believe it is truly worthy of!