Classifying “Footsteps in the Wind” is a tricky case. It wavers upon the line of autobiographical and impressionistic, of PSA and metaphor; it demonstrates live-action camerawork in a fully-animated short. This, perhaps, may be due to Palestinian-Lebanese director Maya Sanbar's previous experiments with multimedia. After dabbling in 360 immersive experiences, scent installations, and more, this film marks the beginning of Sanbar's animation debut. This film also marks a part of a larger political mission, as well. Sanbar's end credits and website openly encourage this film to play into the larger United Nations initiative to help internationally displaced and refugee children – subjects similar to the film's nameless protagonists.
“Footsteps in the Wind” review is part of the Submit Your Film Initiative
“Footsteps in the Wind” traces the journey of two siblings. They live happily until suddenly, an earthquake-tsunami combination tears their family apart. A series of traumatic events force the siblings to learn how to cope with their ever-shifting situation. Mourning, uncertainty, and hope line the two's journey into the unknown.
On a strictly technical level, Sanbar's inexperience with animation, shows. The naturalistic character design – though very crisp (this video file must have been huge!) – makes for a natural constraint. Ease of character movement is sacrificed for keeping their form; they don't squash and stretch as naturally as they might in more exaggerated settings. When combined with the low frame-rate of the foregrounded waves, the characters appear more like mere puppets moving their limbs.
This quirk is only secondary, however, to the film's larger purpose: of highlighting the overwhelming trauma that comes with displacement. The team's artists master a 360 revolving camera with ease, and the imaginary monsters are also a delight to watch. Plays with scale emphasize the enormity of disaster, and Sting's “Inshallah” tune equally delivers a more sorrowful note. Though “Footsteps in the Wind” is by no means innovative on the production-end, it delivers the affect intended. Empathy, the short suggests, is the first step to aid.
