Not just the best of this year's Oscar nominated shorts, but among the best short films I have ever seen!!

I just got back from seeing the five Oscar-nominated live action shorts and was pleasantly surprised. After seeing a mediocre batch of animated shorts yesterday, I was so happy to see that the live action films are among the very best I've ever seen nominated.

Of the five films, two are definite standouts and should battle each other for the Oscar--"Henry" and "Death of a Shadow". While I adored BOTH these films and would love to see both win, if I was forced to pick the very best, I'd say "Henry"--but only by a smidgen. Both films are among the best short films I have ever seen--and I probably have reviewed more shorts than anyone on IMDb.

My daughter and I both agreed that although the film is supposed to be a bit of a mystery as to what's happening, we BOTH almost immediately knew what the mystery was. My daughter thought that impacted her enjoyment--I didn't really care because the film was made so remarkably well. The camera-work was brilliant, the acting by Gérard Poirier was even more brilliant and the the story, though a bit predictable, was MAGNIFICENT.

Oddly, right now on IMDb, "Henry" only has a score of 6.0--and I have absolutely no idea why. It's brilliant...but just be sure to have a lot of Kleenex nearby--you'll need it.

UPDATE: Well, the Oscar folks didn't seem to agree with me and instead gave the award to "Curfew"--a very good film, though I still think "Henry" was better.

French-language cinema, whether in France, Québec, or other Francophone regions, explores cultural identity, social change, and the tension between the individual and society. French cinema is not only celebrated for its intellectual experimentation and auteur traditions, but also its success in mainstream comedy, romance, and commercial entertainment. In Québec, films often focus on questions of language, belonging, and community within a distinct cultural landscape.

Jean-Pierre Léaud in The 400 Blows (1959)

The drama genre is a broad category that features stories portraying human experiences, emotions, conflicts, and relationships in a realistic and emotionally impactful way. Dramas delve into the complexities of human life, often exploring themes of love, loss, morality, societal issues, personal growth, with the aim to evoke an emotional response from the audience by presenting relatable and thought-provoking stories.

Mahershala Ali and Alex R. Hibbert in Moonlight (2016)

The short form refers to creative works characterized by their brevity and concise storytelling. Unlike full-length feature films, short films have a running time of less than 45 minutes, while TV shorts have a running time of less than 22 minutes.

Benedict Cumberbatch in The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar (2023)

Henry, a great concert pianist, has his life thrown in turmoil the day the love of this life, Maria, disappears mysteriously. He'll then discover the inevitable verdict of life.

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Shawn Christensen and Fatima Ptacek in Curfew (2012)

Matthias Schoenaerts in Death of a Shadow (2012)

Gérard Poirier and Hubert Lemire in Henry (2011)

Yan England and Gérard Poirier in Henry (2011)

Henry

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