Even for those who avoid animated movies like the plague, "If You Were Me : Anima Vision" might be worth making an exception for. The six animated shorts bundled together here each offer a lively, spirited and unique take on the theme of discrimination and the experience of being different.
The one that perhaps stands out most is "Flesh and Bone" directed by Amy Lee. The Korean title literally translates as "The Chubby Big-Boned Girl" -- a phrase that suggests knockabout comedy but in fact encapsulates the pent-up frustration of the main character, which she modeled on herself. Completely fresh and new, the short gently pillories superficiality and the obsession with outward appearance, and it is its charm that gets its point across to the audience so effectively.
"Be a Human Being" looks at the way young Koreans are barely treated as human beings before they get to university. "Bicycle Trip" focuses on the discrimination experienced by foreign workers in Korea. Soft lines and a striking watercolor background distinguish "Daydream" with its quiet depiction of our double standards in dealing with people with disability. It homes in on the daily life of a father with a daughter whose hands and feet are deformed.
"At Her House" paints a devastating picture of gender inequality within a marriage, while "Animal Farm" relies on the rough-and-ready feel of stop-motion clay animation to create a satire of bullying and mob dynamics.
The portmanteau is the second project by the National Human Rights Commission following a package of documentary shorts of the same title that featured among others Park Chan-wook, the toast of the international festival circuit with films like "Old Boy" and "Sympathy for Lady Vengeance".
US$5 off (order min. US$5) Coupon code HANSTYLE Get a $10 off $20 order coupon, for first purchase and for HanCinema members only, so sign up, and get the coupon here
