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A Woman's Touch

6 films
Leaving soon

I love these films. I could invent a unifying thread that binds them together but I love them because they are distinct, each an expression of the unique imagination and artistry of the women who created them. From the meticulously hand-crafted Wild Life by Wendy Tilby and Amanda Forbis, and Soup of the Day by Lynn Smith, to the dark and mysterious My Little Underground by Elise Simard and The End of Pinky by Claire Blanchet, to the hilarious ShowPeace piece Dinner For Two by Janet Perlman and the snappy Orange – done by Sylvie Trouvé in a span of …

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A Woman's Touch

I love these films. I could invent a unifying thread that binds them together but I love them because they are distinct, each an expression of the unique imagination and artistry of the women who created them.

From the meticulously hand-crafted Wild Life by Wendy Tilby and Amanda Forbis, and Soup of the Day by Lynn Smith, to the dark and mysterious My Little Underground by Elise Simard and The End of Pinky by Claire Blanchet, to the hilarious ShowPeace piece Dinner For Two by Janet Perlman and the snappy Orange – done by Sylvie Trouvé in a span of a few weeks as part of the Hothouse mentorship program – they are whimsical and provocative, functional but fun.

And they exemplify the kind of filmmaking that is nurtured in the NFB animation studios, where the idea, the medium and the personalities behind the film curl into a singular auteur expression.

These filmmakers approach their work with care and courage and a spirit of experimentation that is exciting to witness. Their films are poetry, history, memoire, fable….

…did I mention I love these films?

Maral Mohammadian
Producer, Animation Studio

Playlist

  • Wild Life
    Wild Life
    Amanda Forbis  &  Wendy Tilby 2011 13 min
    The NFB’s 72nd Oscar®-nominated film.

    In 1909, a dapper young remittance man is sent from England to Alberta to attempt ranching. However, his affection for badminton, bird watching and liquor leaves him little time for wrangling cattle. It soon becomes clear that nothing in his refined upbringing has prepared him for the harsh conditions of the New World. This animated short is about the beauty of the prairie, the pang of being homesick and the folly of living dangerously out of context.
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  • My Little Underground
    My Little Underground
    Élise Simard 2012 6 min
    In this autobiographical animated short, Elise Simard crafts the story of a young girl seeking self-discovery and rebirth. Drifting between real and imagined events, the film uses time-lapse photography with ink and pastels, creating a haunting, compassionate exploration of addiction and existence.
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  • Dinner for Two
    Dinner for Two
    Janet Perlman 1996 7 min
    We're sorry, this content is not available in your location.
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  • Orange
    Orange
    Sylvie Trouvé 2009 1 min
    This animated short poses some interesting questions: what if buildings pulsed, trees tapped out beats, or shadows could whistle a tune? Through the creative interpretation and animation of the city's natural rhythms, Orange orchestrates a contagious urban dance.

    Produced as part of the 5th edition of the NFB’s Hothouse apprenticeship.
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  • The End of Pinky
    The End of Pinky
    Claire Blanchet 2013 8 min
    This short animation adapted from a short story by Heather O’Neill, who also narrates the film, follows three fallen angels seeking companionship in Montreal’s red-light district. The survivor of traumatic childhood experiences, Johnny is a handsome thief who finds himself drawn to Mia’s fragile beauty. Both have a soft spot for Johnny’s best friend and partner in crime, Pinky. But when one of Pinky’s endearing quirks sets off a tragicomic chain of events, Johnny plots his revenge with methodical detachment. Peopled with characters living on the margins of society, this film casts light on the frailty of human relationships. The film features hand-drawn pencil and pastel animation rendered in stereoscopic 3D.
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  • Soup of the Day
    Soup of the Day
    Lynn Smith 2013 3 min
    This animated short presents a dilemma faced by a couple every time they go out to eat. Will their culinary differences douse the flames of romance, or will love prevail? Set to a rollicking doo-wop song by Canadian songwriter Alexander (Zander) Ary, the film brings Lynn Smith's gouache paintings to life as she animates directly under the camera. This short is a tasty comic narrative that skips along an array of tantalizing dishes. Vocalists Susie Arioli and Zander Ary each bring a unique interpretation to this funny, charming song.
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