The Hunter and the Swan Discuss Their Meeting (2011) User Reviews

quirky; sharp; expansively heartwarming

[jamiecarmichael · 10/10 · 9 April 2011]

There's a funny reveal at the beginning of this movie - a really funny, surprising reveal. And then you think it's done and it's only going to cleverly execute that premise - this unexpected juxtaposition of magical and ordinary - but it layers on another, whole new heartwarming thing that casts the whole story in a much larger, emotionally rich light. I may be making it sound labored, but all this happens deftly and quickly. The camera-work is shabby chic excellent, all swimmy hand-held and saturated colors; Brooklyn looks very beautiful in the last shot. And the actors are completely charming and hilarious.

It's a short film, but it's a full meal. I really really enjoyed it.

An outstanding bit of magic realism

[jmshapir · 10/10 · 10 April 2011]

The Hunter and the Swan takes the world of storybook fantasy into the here and now. Think Gabriel Garcia Marquez meets Joss Whedon: The characters have magical experiences but their problems are universal.

The story centers around a dinner conversation between two couples. One couple is "ordinary"; the other have a magical history that parallels the famous story of the Swan Maidens. Over the course of a dinner it becomes clear where the real magic lies.

I love the writing. The actor direction is excellent. Much is said with pregnant glances instead of words.

If I have one criticism it is that the shot of a Brooklyn street corner at the end of the film is a bit obvious for an indie production. But that's a small blemish on an otherwise very clean shoot.

The film is short and well worth a watch. As of right now it even seems to be free on YouTube.

Magical Realist Dinner Party with Dessert Sushi

[john-mangin · 9/10 · 14 April 2011]

This short has one of the best set-ups I've seen in a long time. If you're a busy type who doesn't have time for full 8 minutes, do yourself a favor and watch the first minute and a half.

If you do have time for the whole thing -- and you will if you watch the beginning -- you'll see a short that pretty deftly travels through space and time. It starts somewhere in the land of the Princess Bride and ends up in the best parts of mumble core. The fantasy intro is immediately engrossing and enchanting; what follows is pitch-perfectly naturalistic. (Well, except for when the woman transmogrifies and flies out the window.)

I actually hope that this will be the first in a "magical realist dinner party" series.

So great!

[climpark · 10/10 · 11 April 2011]

There are more funny twists in this thing than there are in most feature-length comedy films. And the feel is very authentic, both authentic Brooklyn and authentic dinner party, somehow without any artificial cues. It goes without saying that the premise is very clever, and the back story is very intelligently illustrated.

This film is also well acted; each of the characters puts forth a nuanced performance. Amazing that the whole production can be so expressive in such a short period of time! But the real star of this film is the witty writing and direction. It's such a quirky take on a social setting we all have ample experience navigating, but then walks the viewer through in a delightfully spontaneous way.

charming short film about first impressions, relationships, and outdoor bathing

[joshua_b_levin · 10/10 · 11 April 2011]

I'm not generally a fan of magical realism, but this charming short film totally won me over. The Hunter and the Swan Discuss Their Meeting begins with a dinner party conversation about how the guests first met. It's an interesting story, it turns out: The guy ran across a group of beautiful maidens bathing naked in the moonlight, and he happened to pick up the gal's robe.

The other couple is understandably intimidated by this tale--it surely beats "Our parents set us up" or "We were both reading the same Dean Koontz novel at the airport bookstore." The great thing about this movie, though, is that it subverts our expectations so many times in such a short amount of time. You'll come away from this film smiling, and you'll think about your own relationships differently. You'll also learn exactly what to do when you come across a group of naked maidens in the forest.