An Ostrich Told me the World was Fake and I Think I Believe it

Closely resembling media like Severance and The Lego Movie, this short film is a must-see for people who love something more meta. Filmed by showing that our unnamed main character is living in a stop-motion world manipulated by the hands. He notices increasingly stranger events that lead to the eventual meeting of the ostrich. The film’s name references this pivotal point and eventually is said by the main character. Ending with a surprising cycle. This film might not be the most surreal of the bunch but is one of the most memorable. 

Ice Merchants

A dynamic 14-minute film about an ice merchant father and son. It’s a heartwarming tale that explores themes of grief, connection, and comfort in routine. Without dialogue, they find other methods to get these themes across. Using warm colors to contrast the icy background, music to reveal the characters’ emotions, and the simple toss of a hat to foreshadow how it ends. 

The Flying Sailor

This film opens with a sailor, on a dock, watching an inevitable crash between boats. It follows him as he’s launched up into the air continuing upward until he reaches space. It becomes dreamlike and airy as scenes from his life flash before his eyes. But all things have to come down eventually. It reverses everything it’s built up as he crashes to the ground. They explore the fragility of life through this sailor’s surreal experiences. It ends with a dedication to the real-life sailor who survived the fall from 2 kilometers. It’s a confusing experience if you know nothing about it going in but learning about this true story makes it all the better. 

The Boy, The Mole, The Fox, and the Horse

Based on a book made in 2019, The Boy, The Mole, The Fox, and the Horse, a 34-minute film with the same name makes its debut. Produced by Apple TV and paired with a star-studded cast, this takes the opportunity to highlight struggles of mental health. It follows an unnamed protagonist throughout his journey to find a home. Where he quickly meets a cake-obsessed mole, a quiet fox, and a horse. Paired with a gorgeous soundtrack and a calming, snowy, atmosphere it may feel a bit slow-paced to its audiences but makes the experience unforgettable. 

My Year of D*cks: 

Perhaps not the one you want to watch with your 70-year-old grandpa, but certainly the most authentic of the bunch. This is another one based on a book, Notes to Boys: And Other Things I Shouldn’t Share in Public by Pamela Ribon. This short film serves as an extension of that. It’s broken up into chapters each dedicated to a failure of a date. It perfectly encapsulates the awkwardness of being a teenage girl trying to get her first boyfriend. It’s real, authentic, and would make the perfect rom-com.