The sun has started shining this week, and my tolerance for sitting in front of a laptop has drastically diminished. As I’m writing this, a bumblebee is trying to make its way into my living room, although it looks much nicer outside.
I’m not sure watching films is the best way to celebrate springtime, but here we are: full of birds chirping and bugs crawling, this selection provides a nice soundtrack to the beginning of the new season.
These 28 minutes of dialogue-free, contemplative animation will make you want to close this tab and go for a walk… just avoid the woods.
Spring, by Pernille Kjaer (2021)
First in the list is the aptly named Spring by Danish artist Pernille Kjaer. The slow pace of the film gives you time to marvel at the details of these gorgeous black and white drawings. With its enigmatic and mischievous tone, the film draws you in and makes you pay attention to all kinds of presences – animals, spirits, and incidentally, humans.
You can read an interview of the artist on Directors Notes.
Kuhina, by Joni Männistö (2011)
You can always count on a Finnish filmmaker to give a dark twist to a seemingly nice story. In Kuhina, a walk in the woods quickly turns surreal and macabre. Jonni Männistö creates a horror film in pastel colours. The sound design is excellent and creeps under your skin, much like the bugs crawling under this rosy-cheeked child’s T-shirt.
Le Temps de l’arbre, by Dahee Jeong (2012)
We end on a more peaceful note with a quiet meditation on the passage of time. Dahee Jeong’s films all share a poetic and contemplative approach. In her student film, she explores cycles and seasons through the figure of the tree. There is something soothing about her work that makes me want to go sit in the grass and listen to the wind.
UNDERDOG 