Russia's premiere animation studio, Soyuzmultfilm has recently hit headlines. Rumors say that the state-funded studio will transition into a private company open to commercial industry. While some fear the studio will break its infamous experimental streak (surely, you've heard of “Hedgehog in the Fog”), Nadia Goldman's “I WISH” is a testament that this won't go away anytime soon.
“I WISH” will play in Cartoons Underground from 20-27 November.
“I WISH” follows a dream-poem of an unnamed girl. Everything in this world is defined in a deceptively simple cloak of black or white; singular lines define trees and veins contour outlines of feet. French and Russian utterances ease through the film, threading each disparate thread. Do not be fooled, however. This confusing dreamscape is quick to erupt however, jolting our dreamer – and us – awake.
Since the film is only three-minutes long, “I WISH” feels almost like a hallucination. It seems to blend the accruing horrors of a Boris Labbe short with the fantastical character designs of Dash Shaw, but sped up exponentially. The explosive sound design complements its stark value contrast as well, making it a jarring watch. All in all, the film delivers a quick, but well-executed journey into the nightmare/daydream — one that I certainly would not wish to dream of again.
Hey! So glad I’ve found your comment about “I Wish”. I’m new to this world of short animation but one thing that made me intrigued was the use of a poem that I am trying hard to recover with no success. Do you remember the poem? I really loved your post about the animation btw. Also felt this kind of nigthmare/dream ambient. Another thing that I really liked that you noticed was the no-name of the protagonist (even if in the synopsis they say it’s marina).
Hope my english can be understandable.