The Lady and the Reaper (La dama y la muerte)

I have been going to the special showings of the Oscar-nominated shorts for the last several years and I have learned one important thing--if I love an animated short, it's bound to lose. This isn't the case with the live-action ones, but I have the uncanny ability to pick which one I think should win and get it wrong every time! Sadly for THE OLD LADY AND THE REAPER, I loved it and felt it should win the Oscar--a true curse if I've ever heard one! I think, while it's not my first favorite, that LOGORAMA will actually take the Oscar, as it's more creative and visually stunning. Plus, the Oscar people (technically, the members of AMPAS) don't seem to like the morbid little comedies--as my favorites for 2008 and 2009 were also about death (wow,,,that says a lot about me, huh?).

THE OLD LADY AND THE REAPER is a Spanish movie but when I saw it, the film was in English. IMDb also says it's an English language film, though with its Spanish title I assume that there must be a Spanish language one out there somewhere. If you find it, let me know--I'd like to see that as well.

The film is a comedy about a power struggle between the Grim Reaper and a hot-shot doctor who plays God and keeps resuscitating a dead lady. As for the lady, she's quite old and very prepared to die--and just wishes that this jerk would let her go! It's all very, very goofy and is sure to make you laugh--particularly the cute way it portrays the Reaper as well as his three-headed Poodle! Clever, funny and manically paced--this is a hilarious film and the theater was filled with laughter from start to finish. Too bad it probably won't win.

Update (3/7/10)--I was correct, "Logorama" took the Oscar. It just goes to show that my instinct was correct but I still enjoyed "La Dama y La Muerte" better. See both films and do yourself a favor.

Having spent a good deal of time studying right to die legislation, films like this give us a look at the cruelty sometimes associated with heroic measures to revive people. Often it is against their wishes and involves frightening technology. Here, a very old woman, longs to be reunited (in death) with her loving husband. Just as she is about to pass, she is hit with paddles. No one can blame the doctors, but often there is a time for such things. A really funny, but also, tragic, film.

the theme. the humor, from the mute early comedies era. the love story, who remains seductive, delicate, the axis of run, fight between reaper and good looking doctor and his nurses,the stairs as image from many familiar films, the end. the first virtue - the delicate way to translate a not comfortable subject in the best manner.because it is a short film about the strong link between lovers. and the expectation of the great meet. the rest - simple tricks, fireworks for a nice story. but the first scenes and, sure, the last, are the basic motif to see this, at first sigh, crazy animation.

pure comedy. hilarious in great style. crazy humor. but... it could be only the package. for many films, the end represents the key/the great revelation. not in this case. because the run, the battle between Death and the good looking doctor is , for me, only the package for the state of old lady who prefers the meeting with her husband against the gray life. the show is only the manner to not transform entire story in a sentimental one. and the success is guaranteed. but the flavor of first part remains. so, a film for the dark comedy fans but , in same measure, for the admirers of lovely stories about solitude. so, must see it !

Sounds interesting. But, it's not. It all just about gags. I am not a big fan of gags (Unless Bustor Keaton or Harold Lloyd does that).

The animation is good. The starting moments are picture esque. Ending scene is truly brilliant. Very few films get such little moments right, and it does that just perfectly. Despite being an animation, it captures the women's expressions precisely.