Come Again in Spring影评：【转】Review: Come Again in Spring
Posted by MP
Come Again in Spring is an eleven minute animated adaptation of a Richard Kennedy story that deals with an aspect of life that we all inevitably must face: death. Hark is an old man living in solitude out in the country. His life is a series of chores that include chopping wood but the greatest pleasure that comes in his life is when he feeds the birds. They come without hesitation expecting to be fed and Hark never disappoints. But one winter day, a stranger draped in black arrives on his land to come and take him to the other side. It seems Hark’s time on earth is up and death has come to claim him. Hark makes a deal with death that consists of answering three questions about his life in a test of the old man’s memory.
Director Belinda Oldford’s animation is a throwback to the animation of old. This isn’t a CG film nor are the lines clean. The animation reminds of the old national anthem animations that would air at five AM before the morning cartoons back in the day. This style is a refreshingly old style and it serves the story well. Death swirls around and it’s almost beautiful to watch, considering what he is.
I found myself hoping that Hark would be able to foil Death. As Death awaits the last answer, Hark seems like he’s on his last wits as he struggles in his bed. The final answer brought a smile to my face as the birds revealed their true significance in Hark’s life. But one can only cheat death so many times and that’s what makes the end so bittersweet. It starts playing on August 27th as part of the Montreal World Film Festival. For details click here.
