The Lost Thing

This is about someone facing insurmountable odds as he attempts to bring a strange creature back home. One day, the thing just shows up and is so unique that there seems to be nothing to connect it to. He is cut off at every turn, but he perseveres. The interesting thing is that this creature, while being somewhat monstrous in appearance, is kind and gentle, and he continues to deliver those traits. The theme of this film, which is from a children's book, has to do with misfits and their trials and the need for someone to believe in them. Nice work.

The Lost Thing is a 15 minute animated short film based on the highly acclaimed picture book by multi award winning author and illustrator, Shaun Tan, that says to have been influenced by Tim Burton, Francis Bacon and Rene Magritte. I will not dare to write a piece about Tan's life and work, but, by these influences, you can have an idea of how this movie will be shown: with subliminal meanings and metaphors. As this short film was adapted from the children's book of same name, you shall watch it through the eyes of a child, that is now knowing the world it lives. I believe the metaphor created successfully by Shaun means to a kid that the world it was born at is a place of bitter people that lost their brightness; they do not care about life and happiness anymore; but you must not care about it. You are special the way you are, and you will find your place in the world some day; not among the others people, but among equal friends who will comprehend your feelings and make you happy. And by its signification, watching this 15 minutes film worth it.

'THE LOST THING': Four Stars (Out of Five)

One of the best animated short films nominated for an Oscar last year (2010), this one tells the story of a boy (voiced by Tim Minchin) who finds an odd and mysterious creature on a beach, which no one else seemed to notice. He takes it home with him and attempts to find it a place of it's own to live but finds little help as he discovers no one else seems to care. The film focuses on our modern civilization and how busy and self centered we are to notice amazing thing right in front of us. It of course delivers the message that as a child we still have awe and wonder for such things but eventually grow out of it. It's directed by Shaun Tan and Andrew Ruhemann and written by Tan. The film is quirky, nostalgic and cleverly animated. It's got that classic monster befriends child charm to it. One definitely worth the recognition it's received.

Watch our review show 'MOVIE TALK' at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CBqNUf10kuk

A well-made, layered animation short which asks questions about the things we elect to see (or not to see) in our lives. There's quite a vivid and fertile visual imagination at work here, but the work also seems rooted in a certain artistic tradition. I would not be wholly surprised to discover that the various makers of the movie were great admirers of the work of Hiëronymus Bosch.

The first scenes on the beach gave me a certain chill, because they reminded me of a real-life anecdote. A couple of years ago, a friend of mine was spending the weekend in a Belgian seaside city, together with his wife. The pair were spending a lazy midday demolishing a vast plate of seafood, when they suddenly noticed a tiny girl of four or five roaming the street all on her lonesome. My friend and his wife ran out of the restaurant in order to intercept the little girl, who was dressed only in sandals and a swimsuit. They immediately warned the various authorities guarding the beach. The child was soon reunited with her parents. So far this is an unremarkable little tale, but what makes the story so strange is that the girl had wandered off at least an hour earlier, without the parents noticing. How can two normal adults fail to supervise their offspring playing next to a vast body of water ? And, especially, how can they fail to notice one of their offspring getting lost for at least an hour ?

Questions to ponder...

Shaun Tan, is quite well known among Australian children and teacher/librarians for his contributions to the field of children's books and art work.

The Lost Thing was originally published as a children's book in 1999. The story revolves around a young man who finds a... well... Thing. Nobody else seems to notice the Thing, and the young man decides to find out where it is meant to be.

The film is set in a drab, dystopian world that is akin to Dali's impressionistic artistry.

For people that enjoy not only animation, but also art, this is a fantastic choice. The visuals and Thing are quite astounding to watch and the story is very well executed.

For people wishing to buy this film. It is purchasable from here http://www.madman.com.au/catalogue/view/13969/the-lost-thing