It All Ties into Creation

   The thing that stuck out to me most in Hoedeman's short films was each character having its own sound. In Tchou Tchou, these combine to make sounds of life. Bizarre life, but life. We connect with these blocks on an interesting level. I mean, who wasn't rooting for that ladybug when he got stuck on the ramp? We all wanted him to make it up. The Sand Castle gives each a more musical character. They come together, make music and dance.

   Using music to advance the story is something still used frequently. What is different is it is eclipsed with words. These animated films, with fantastical characters and no spoken dialogue, represent a grand form of storytelling. Age and gender barriers dissipate, and music is a language we all speak. Now, with a little effort you can come up with some nasty things to say about them. We live in a broken world, and nothing can be perfectly clean or innocent.

   By telling stories in such a universal manner, we are looking at a time gone by (and coming again) when there were no barriers. In a time where everything is good and innocent, all media will be children's media because there will be nothing to hide from them.Even the violence and evil of history will become like the soft, remembered pang of death in the film with Ludovic. It will be worth remembering, but not worth devoting an entire work to. 

   Much as I enjoyed Co Hoedeman's short films in class, I wish we could have seen some of Frederic Back's work. In particular I would like to watch Tout Rien and discuss that, along with the quote from his interview: "The problem today is that there are no more artists and thinkers at the head of organizations, only bureaucrats. . . . They have no ideas to offer. They don't take risks--and artistic creation is always taking a risk; you can't guarantee how it will come out, there's no safety in art." I think Tout Rien is full of risk, but most of it is not recognized until suddenly it has all gone south and it's too late.... or is it? Spoilers!