We take everyday sounds for granted, the little hums and taps, the sips and steps, how the outside world of traffic and people seeps into our airspace. It is not often these arbitrary sounds form a vital and absorbing part of a short story. Crucial infact, to transporting you into the created world – even if merely a series of drawn lines.
That’s not to belittle Once Upon a Line, the dazzlingly crafted short animated film from Polish filmmaker, Alicja Jasina. In this case, a film to treasure, an animation designed with such intricate, seemingly simple design, the impact is a true sense of real-life as we forget we know it.
Once Upon a Line visits the mundane of daily routine, and how that can become blotchy with the addition of human attraction. Many of us ought to be extremely familiar with both. A welcome, exhilarating distraction from the norm when our protagonist chap bumps into the woman in pink.
What makes the fleetingly majestic film even more impressive is the fluctuating shift in the imperfections of our lives that alter the directions we take or the fortunes we embrace. We know they are there, except not always when they are, and we don’t always see them. We simply watch in admiration as the lines unravel the story we have perhaps ventured on ourselves. Can animation really capture our memories and experiences in a more coherent way that our own minds?
There are moments of piercing euphoria, there are inescapable bouts of melancholy – whether it be the tiniest of details, like the cat being fed, to the head-down stroll of heartbreak and loneliness. Still, Alicja Jasina manages to take us on this shape-shift of emotion, relating it to our own existence, and still have us smiling at the end.
Beautifully assembled and realised, Once Upon a Line is for all of us, be it black, pink or green. We don’t always know what’s in front of us going forward, but Jasina and company sure help us draw a line under the subtle turns in our lives.
What the Official Jury had to say:
Entertaining observation of an average, everyday man who decides to be more alive. Lovely colors, with good sound effects and music.
Jasmine May
A very clear and well told story that I’m sure will be relatable to most who watch it. I’ve never seen an animation like it, very unique and creative. Loved the way the music moved with the animation and did a good job of setting the mood.
Caitlin Higgins
Good rhythm and build up. The animation does a great job at conveying emotions and feelings. The sound design is also very good and nicely complements the visuals and the unfolding of the story.
Niccolò Montanari
