團聚的味兒The Taste of Reunion 1

Animations that Resonate with Viewers

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Animation is appealing as it is an art form that embraces creativity and skill, resulting in finished products that are both stunning and practical. The flexible and versatile nature of animation also makes it adaptable to the preferences and needs of the target audiences regardless of their age or circumstances. And this is evident in the following three animation short films produced by a few young animators from Macau at this year’s Macao Films Panorama 2020.

 

Candy Coated Poison, directed by Ho Sok Ieng, is a short animation that invites reflection on the social impacts of casino gaming in Macau. As its name implies, the film puts forth the message that the gaming industry is more of a curse than a blessing.

With the use of creative animated images, the film sheds light on the harms behind the glitz and glamour of the casinos. Children are ‘deposited’ in the ‘storage’ area, a hint of sarcasm against the problem of child neglect because of parents’ addiction to gambling. While the King card with the sword visually protruding out implies the destructive power of gambling, the few tiny human figures lying among the gigantic chips on the casino table also show the misery of the people who have fallen into the grip of compulsive gambling. Moreover, the guy sitting on top of an oversized dice is reminiscent of the occasional incidents of gamblers jumping to their deaths after losing everything.

Above all, there is the disturbing scene of a dealer’s feet attached to the roots of a tree growing among many others on a spherical surface. This symbolizes Macau’s over dependence on the gaming industry for revenue, just like parasites attach to trees for enhanced survival.

This scene of the trees on the globe appears both at the beginning and the end of the film. Alarmingly, it makes me think of a coronavirus! In these downcast days of the pandemic outbreak, this image would inevitably resonate with the viewers, convincing them of the negative impact of the gaming industry if allowed to develop beyond control.

The Valley of Ginsengs, directed by Lou Ka Choi and Leong Kin, is a 2D hand-drawn animation with an environmentalism theme. The picturesque scenery of the valley is highlighted with birds and blossoming fruit trees, the usual elements of Japanese watercolor painting. Soothing music in the background also helps enhance its serenity and scenic charm, drawing the audience into the valley’s relaxing ambience. On the other hand, the use of cartoon images makes the two chief characters pleasant and likeable, particularly to young children. The film thus prepares the audiences for a nice, peaceful story from the very start.

Without a dialogue, the animation tells a simple story about a chance encounter between a boy and a girl, who gradually become friends and spend some joyful time together. Just as the audience is ready for the happy growth of their friendship, the film draws to an end. In fact, the sad and abrupt ending is an important focus of the story. For it is then that the boy’s identity is disclosed. The friendship between the two kids actually symbolizes human relationship with nature. Their lovesome moments of togetherness remind us how humans can be part of nature by adopting an eco-friendly attitude. Conversely, the act of ginseng poaching suggests how humans can cause damage to the environment for their selfish gains. The animation is indeed a wake-up call for humans to avoid further exploiting natural resources.

With this moral lesson for the audience to reflect on, the animation is recommendable to the whole family. It can also serve as a teaching aid to initiate students’ thinking about environmental conservation.

The Taste of Reunion, directed by Panda Chan, is a nostalgic animation that tells the story of a small girl and her parents. Through the small girl’s voice-over narration, the film takes the audience on a short trip down memory lane, impressing them with the historic impact of Macau on a simple family. While the city rejoices over Macau’s Handover, the girl feels only the joy of the reunion with her father after their separation for a few years. This careful arrangement to draw attention to the two contemporary events makes the story engaging to both adults and young viewers.

As the name of the film implies, the taste of food can be evocative, bringing back memories of feelings and emotions. In fact, the small girl’s fondness for roast pork is a detail that hints at her attachment to her father. During his absence, even the roast pork has lost its taste, but, upon his return, the girl at once thinks of offering him the best part of the food. This sentimental touch is sure to strike a chord with family audiences.

By comparison, The Taste of Reunion presents images with a closer resemblance to reality than the other two. There is an astounding amount of detail put into the presentation of the animated characters, objects and background scenes. The repeated close-up shots of the roast pork, for example, are tantalizing, highlighting the theme about the taste. In fact, the film is like a story book that keeps young readers turning the pages with their glittering illustrations. Undoubtedly, this is an animation for audiences who care for an engaging story about people who call Macau home.

I recommend these three animations enthusiastically as they show how Macau’s aspiring young animators have overcome tremendous challenges to seek improvement in the rapidly growing field of animation.

 

 

Cinematheque‧Passion presents remarkable and new local works at Macao Films Panorama 2020 from 8 to 24 May. Various sessions bring features, documentaries and animations – most of which are shorts. Apart from local works, it also features recommendations from festivals in China, Hong Kong and Taiwan. 

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