The World According to Shorts' NINE NATION ANIMATION festival features a generally impressive, disturbing, hilarious, and affecting roster of features from around the globe. In Norway's "Deconstruction Workers," two construction workers come to the realization that alienation is the norm as the world around them self-destructs. In Turkey's "Average 40 Matches," a box of matches sacrifices the odd one out in order to take a drag of a cigarette (which ultimately consumes them all). In France's "Bamiyan" a Chinese monk and a tiger travel to Afghanistan to see the Buddhist statues of Bamiyan. In the Irish/German co-production "Please Say Something," a workaholic cat and an abusive novelist mouse have a dysfunctional relationship that takes some David Lynchian turns. In Belgium's "Flatlife" four residents are unable to peacefully co-exist in four adjoining apartments. In Croatia's "She Who Measures," placated consumers litter the landscape with pop culture detritus. In "Home Road Movies," a British family experience Europe in a snazzy traveling car "without forgetting who won the war." In South Africa's "The Tale of How," an engineer mouse comes up with a way to defeat Otto the Sea Monster. Finally, in Sweden's "Never Like the First Time!" two men and two women from diverse backgrounds have alternately nostalgic and traumatic memories of their first sexual experiences.
REVIEW LINK: New Yorker Films (USA) Region 0 NTSC DVD (DVDBeaver)
NINE NATION ANIMATION DVD specs:
- All 9 films in 16:9 (aspect ratios vary)
- Dolby Digital 2.0 stereo
- Burnt-In English subtitles
- Bonus Film: The Runt
- Trailer
- Other World According to Shorts Program Trailers
