Le Matelot volant

The Halifax Explosion of 1917 is an established fact, with devastation wrought that raised a hue and cry about spies. Amidst the tragedy, one sailor was found more than a mile from the harbor, naked. The story was that the explosion had ripped his clothes off and blown him about two kilometers, with no harm.

That's one explanation, although I can think of others. In any case, his story was accepted, and this Oscar-nominated short form Canada's National Film Board offers it as a cartoon.

In the past, the Oscar nominees for best animated shorts have been plagued with pieces that could have been done easily as live action. None of this year's fall under that curse, nor the one about "animated radio", a lecture with some pictures. Unfortunately, as beautiful as this is, it's not a story, it's an anecdote.

This short takes a look at the kind of thoughts that might race through a sailor's head as he was carried through the air by a terrible explosion, such as the one that devastated the Nova Scotian town of Halifax in 1917. You may find yourself scoffing at its claims of truthfulness, but people in Halifax really were picked up by the explosion and deposited kilometers away. In any case, the short is moving and beautiful. Special attention should be paid to the soundscape, which combines a beautiful score with all the sounds a sailor might have heard throughout his life, from his childhood in a grimy port city to the moment two ships collided in a harbour, setting off thousands of tons of explosives.

In Halifax harbour, a colision between two ships. One of victims of explosion - a sailor jump, for two kilometers, pushed by blast. The skin of film - the life flashbacks, from childhood to the life in Marine, conflict against a mate, a game . And , again. Techical, more than interesting. But the end is so brutal than a sort of dessapointment becomes fair.

First , because it has an obscure purpose . To remind the explosion ? Maybe is it enough. To suggest an experience, eccentric , special, strange and a miraculous survive ? It just well works in this sense. Or, maybe, to offer one of stories so loved by inner child inside us . For this, just applauses.

In short, an Oscar nominated.

The only problem for me - the impecable survive, in his mouth, of...cigarette.

It's probably just as well that the eponymous sailor is long dead for I don't think he'd be terribly impressed with the body these animators have decided to give him! He is strolling the harbour of Halifax when a sudden explosion as two ships appear to collide propels him up into the air, strips him of his clothes and plonks him down in a tree some 3km from the site. As he travels we are treated to some reminiscences from his young life, his sailing career and as his life flashes before our eyes we enjoy a gently engaging score from Luigi Allemano that helps keep things moving. This isn't my favourite style of animation - I prefer a little more natural proportion, and I gather that in truth he kept his boots on too! It's quite watchable, but entirely forgettable - sorry.

Road to the Oscars 2023. This short is nominated for 1 Oscar and it´s animated short of course. I don´t see this as anything that special. It´s a very artistic short so maybe it spoke to you more than me. I understand and see the appeal, but after watching it I felt like noting in particular was said and happened and I felt no reason to watch this again.

A sailor caught in an explosion see his life flash before his eyes.

The score is really good here. It´s moving and uses the piano well, although I feel like every single short film dose that. Not to make the score sound worse but I think the soft piano has been done so many times it feels like it´s own trope now.

I liked the clashing art styles and especially the beginning. I found some part of it to be art styles not for me like the way the sailor is drawn but that´s a taste thing.

It´s a short that hits the balance between fun and cartoony and contrasts it with seriousness. The opening and the start of the explosion really sets the tone and uses the medium of animation to its advantage to really subvert expectations.

It´s a short about what happens before we die. Allegedly you see your life flash before you and that´s what we see here. It´s not clear cut or anything, the sailor is seeing small glimpses of his life and nothing that coherent. It works wonders but creates this weird feeling movie without much form. But I guess that's the point. How do you make a life flash before someone without making it weird? It´s a really artistic interpretation first and a movie with any substance second. Personally, this didn't speak to me, but maybe it´ll speak to you. I see the artistic craftmanship here as well done, but it doesn't resonate with me in any way.

Overall, I see the short as entertaining enough, but without saying much. It´s capturing a moment in a beautiful way and uses both music and animation to its advantage, but other than that, it´s nothing too special too me.

Oscar predictions: I haven't seen the other animated shorts yet, but if this is winning it must have been a dull year for animated shorts. It wouldn't make me mad, but just make me shrug.