Porcelain Unicorn (2010) User Reviews

human bond

[ckd-42924 · 7/10 · 9 June 2015]

This film is only three minutes, but it is enough to catch my heart. The story is about German boy and a Jewish girl. The German boy creeps into a house and meets the Jewish girl. She has a beautiful porcelain unicorn. I was surprised that they make such a beautiful film by using only designated dialog. And also the dialog is only six. I like the last scene. It is very emotional. This film draws human bond transcending time and race, and that makes this film rally beautiful with a few lines and in a short time. I think people are connected to other people all the time. The connection is more important than anything else is.

Excellent!

[napo0523 · 8/10 · 28 August 2015]

This is a story of a memory of an old man in 1943. At the time, Jewish people were persecuted in Germany. He broke into a Jewish house with his companion and met a Jewish girl. Normally this would be inexcusable, but he released her.

I think this story is unique because of two reasons. The first one is the length. This story is only about three minutes long. Although a three-minute movie is too short compared with other movies, what the story tells is clear so we can understand the contents easily. The second point is it has few lines. Actually, this film has only six lines of dialogue. Therefore, we have to imagine what is happening and what characters think about while watching the movie.

For these reasons, I believe this is worth watching.

lovely story

[chtkhs · 8/10 · 30 July 2015]

This movie is divide into two time periods, now and past. An old man is tense in front of a door holding a box. This scene gives us some questions, for example, why he is tense, or what is the content of the box. The hint of these questions are in the next scene. The next scene keeps us in suspense. We are likely to stop breathing when the army enter the room because we feel we would stay with the two children, a boy and girl. Also, I feel love between the two children though they don't speak very much. It is so cute. At the end, we feel gentle opposite to the violent scene in the middle. And, I like the last scene because they don't say the conclusion completely. Therefore, we can wonder about the future for then.

Exquisite and deeply moving

[DrSAger-106-350491 · 13 July 2011]

Keenan Wilcox is a genius. A most succinct genius. This very brief movie--only three minutes long--won the Grand Prize Award at the 2011 Post-Cannes Phillips Film Festival. The rules for the entrants to the contest were:

1)The film could be no more than three minutes long. 2)It could have only six lines of dialog.

The chief judge, if I'm not mistaken, was Ridley Scott.

I would love to discuss this movie in great detail, both in terms of the humanity in it as well its symbolism which, I believe, is not at all obvious.

Still, anything more I could say about this film, though, anything about the plot or characters would spoil the extreme preciousness of your first experience in seeing it. I am sure that I have seen it at least forty times myself and it still summons tears from me. But see it yourself first and then, if you wish, we could talk, if only IMDb would permit me to post my e-mail address.

It's only three minutes. Prove me wrong.

Moving Film

[popopon0125 · 9/10 · 15 July 2015]

This is a story about an old man's childhood memory. In the film, first, he visits an old woman's house to meet her and to give a gift. Then, he recalls his childhood memories, and finally, he can meet her and give her a gift. The point I like about this film is that it very little dialog. I was very impressed that we can understand what the film wants to say even if there are only a few lines of dialog in the film. Moreover, I also like the choice of actors because a young actor who is in the old man's flashback and an old actor are very alike. In contrast, in my opinion, the young actress who is also in the old man's flashback and the old actress aren't very alike. However, it is a small problem. I think this film teaches us that we will not forget our childhood memories when we become old.

Impressive story

[dniallprry · 7/10 · 23 December 2021]

The German boy finds the Jewish girl who hides in the house. She gives him the Porcelain Unicorn. Some man entered the house, and the boy let the girl escape. Decades later, the man who grows up with this boy visits the woman who grows up with this girl to give the Porcelain Unicorn.

This film is so moving for me. The girl looks scared, but she gives the boy the Porcelain Unicorn, so I think the boy lets her get away. I think the boy maybe know be damaged, but he is moved by the pure girl. Decades later, the woman notices that the man who visits her is the boy who let her get away when they were children when she sees the Porcelain Unicorn. This scene is so moving. I think why she gives the Porcelain Unicorn, because she has some dolls. I want to know the meaning of the Porcelain Unicorn. I enjoyed this film, and image story from this film.

A timeless friendship

[railsskymt-k · 8/10 · 23 July 2017]

This short movie is about a friendship between elderly people. The beginning of their friendship goes back to their childhood, and this movie starts with the scene that a boy meets a mysterious girl in a dark closet. This movie focuses on consideration to other people. The boy's action is always thinks about the girl, and his expression tells us what he really sympathizes with her. The girl is also worried about the boy because he protects her from something. On this other hand, the adults' cruel behavior compares with their sympathy for each other and pure feelings. The heartless of an adult accentuates their innocent feelings by the scenes the man hits the boy, and the man stamps on a ceramic object. I think the ending is the result that they think about one another. Moreover, the amazing point in this movie is using only 6 lines of dialog. I pay attention to how this movie uses this words "it's a unicorn", but I did not think how important a unicorn is in this movie. I think it is difficult to express their completed feelings by using only 6 lines of dialog, but this movie can do it because of the characters' expression. I like this movie since I am touched by their pure feelings and consideration.

The Unicorn's Role

[rapariel · 7/10 · 27 June 2016]

In this film, the bond defeats political power, fear against it, or something that has enormous authority. The boy in this film protects the girl and her unicorn, sacrificing himself. The unicorn in this film embodies the situation of the boy and girl. The unicorn is destroyed by a man, and this means that they are going to be separated by authority. However, when the boy gets old and visits her with the unicorn, it is mended by he. This means they can meet again now, passing a long time. If the unicorn does not appear or he does not mend it and meet her again with nothing, this film becomes very thin. We cannot see human's thoughts or something like that, so sometimes it is necessary to embody those things, using objects. Moreover, this film has little dialog. But the unicorn plays an important role here, too. They do not speak a lot, but because of the unicorn, we can understand the situation of them. And a unicorn is a somehow mysterious but beautiful animal. The uncertain feature of a unicorn embodies the unsteady relationship of the boy and girl. But at the same time, their connection and bond are beautiful. The unicorn suggests the uncertain but beautiful relationship of them, too.

Moved film

[okk07 · 9/10 · 6 August 2017]

I was moved by this movie very much although this movie is only three minutes long. I felt the bond and love between man and woman. I think the situation that a boy is German and a girl Jewish is good because their setting is different and in those dais they was not able to get together. Also, I am interested in that the present connects to the past in this movie through a unicorn. I felt that there are how to write movie like this. Second, I was surprised that this story makes us understand and move although there are few line in this movie. I felt that we can tell feelings of characters by eyes or an expression once more. Also, I felt that we might tell a message in a movie more when there are some dialogue. As a result, I thought this movie is great because this movie tell message directly although this movie is only three minutes long and there are few line. I like this movie very much.

brave and warm

[decopon_kobe · 7/10 · 25 July 2016]

This story is an old man's flashback and meeting again. In the time of war, when hi is a German boy, he plays at a lost house and finds a Jewish girl hiding. Because soldiers come in, she gets away and he finds out. Though their meeting is a moment, he meets her again for the first time in year in order to give a unicorn which she had.

Though this film has only sic words and only 3 minutes, there is a lot of warmth. This historical background is World War 2. This story told me that war is unfair and children are pure. I think children have important rolls in that they can behave without thinking of serious problems.

It's a warm story. I was moved by his bravery and gentleness. I think this film tells the recovery of war and gives a chance to rethink war.

A old man with a box comes in front of a white house

[saoatama · 5/10 · 7 July 2018]

I don't know there is any tendency that short films which settles on the subject matter of Nazi are won approval? This move is nice, but I don't like this sort of short film. I would like it if it were short novel. A old man with a box comes in front of a white house. And standing there. Whose house is it? What relationship do the old man and the owner of the house have? His missing daughter, or wife? This scene attracts attention. And story moves back to the past. Really nice. I like BGM in the beginning. It makes me fear. What's gonna happen? The tone is really sad, but not too dark. It contains positive foretaste for happy ending. In this short film, they can only use certain dialog in fixed order. I think the use of "Get away" is really nice. Usually people want to get rid of stranger from their territory, they say "Get away". They feel negative emotion, when they say "Get away". But, in this film, a boy says "Get away" for positive way. His goodness.

heartwarming story

[bump-18589 · 8/10 · 23 July 2016]

This is a story about a memory of an old man in a time of war. In 1943, one boy soldier is looking for something in a dilapidated house. Suddenly he hears a noise and a door of a locker opens by itself. He enters in the locker and finds a Jewish girl in a darkness.

This film is very short, but I can understand the story line well and I'm moved by it. It is only three minutes, but that's the reason why a director turns a spotlight on a really important part and can make this film impressive. I think that the director uses the music or a sound successfully to describe the change of scenes. For example, he shows that somebody comes in the house by using the sound that a window is broken. On another occasion, he expresses the change of the times by changing from a sad music to a calm one naturally.

There is no doubt that a war is bad. I think this movie is useful not to allow our memories of war to fade away.

Great short, frequently seen setting

[aggelostenshimanga · 7/10 · 2 July 2018]

"Porcelain Unicorn" is a short movie about a young German boy who finds a Jewish girl hiding in an abandoned house during World War 2. He gets a small unicorn statuette from her that ends up broken. Many years later, he finds her again, to return the now fixed statuette.

This short was created for a contest, and had a specific dialogue that had to be used. The way the creators used the dialogue, and the setting they chose is quite interesting and creative. That, combined with good acting and nice camera work, got them the first place.

In my opinion, it is a very touching and well made short, that makes you sympathize with the characters instantly, but I think it is important to consider whether that is because of the writing and acting, or if it is because of the setting. While I do not think it was the creators' intention, the judges may have been made to ignore other equally good entries just because of the subject matter of this short. Showing how terrible Nazis were is in my view an easy way to sway critics to your favor, even if the story is not that well thought out.

In conclusion, "Porcelain Unicorn" is a well made short, but I find its story and "moral" a bit obvious, without that taking away too much from my enjoyment of the film.

old man has a box visited to someone's house

[acingst · 5/10 · 18 July 2015]

The film begin with a scene that an old man who has a box visited to someone's house. Next, the scene changes to three boys enter a house from windows. A boy meets a girl at the house. When I watch the film, I feel nervous, because I think that awful, terrible or unhappy things will happen. I am continued I have a knot in my stomach. After I finish watching the film, I am touched by the story and the story makes me think a lot of things. In addition, some questions are left for me too. This film is appeared old historical background. In general, people think miss the old days along with the sweet and bitter memories. Why do I born? Where do I live? When do I live? How do I live? How should I live? I think that the film give the audiences the opportunity to think about their life, too. Overall, the film has value for people to watch.

great film

[pisrgofort · 17 June 2015]

This movie is the story of how a boy soldier protects a girl. If the girl is discovered by a soldier, or someone other than the boy, she would have a very different fate. However, the miracle is that they came across each other and it is destiny to be connected even when they get old. The meeting way is bad, but the story described their relationship peacefully using unicorn. I feel relaxed watching the last scene. The unicorn is just an ornament, but it makes their relationship. Also, I think unicorn carries happiness for them. In addition, it has meaning that the item is a unicorn, because we have an image of the unicorn as purity and bringing good luck. So I think the contents of the story and unicorn image are matched.

moved movie

[kmyuu_hmtr · 9/10 · 7 August 2017]

This movie runs for only three minutes, but the context is very deep. This is a story during war. This is about the friendship between a German boy and a Juwish girl. During World War Ⅱ,Jewish people are sent to a concentration camp and a large number of them are killed. The girl wears a yellow star, which means she is Jewish, on her arm. HOwever, She doesn't understand the meaning of the star. She seems to be pleased with the star. The behavior that the boy tries to protect her is brave and cool. He is a very kind boy. It is surprising for such elementary school boy to do such behavior. If I were in his position, I couldn't do like him. I want her to run away safely. I pray for her safety. Also, a unicorn plays an important role in this movie. The unicorn is the main point. I'm impressed by the last scene. It's very emotional. I want to watch this movie again.

Worth thinking about its meaning

[yuukiftb · 7/10 · 11 September 2015]

In 1945, Germany, there is a boy looking for something in the old house. As he walks in the dark, he finds something by turning on a flashlight. There is a girl sitting freezing. She gives him a small ornament, a white unicorn. However, suddenly some German soldiers break windows, and come into the house with guns. The boy says to her to get away. She might be safe, but he is found by them, and gives what he has in his hands a "unicorn". Although it is a precious thing, they break it. It is kind of a sad story of the war, but I like the heart warming ending after the war is over.It makes me think what the meaning is of white unicorn.

War and Love

[yu-ka · 8/10 · 23 December 2021]

Porcelain Unicorn is a short film made in 2010. In the first scene, an old man stands in front of a house holding a box. Then, the story moves on to his flashback scene in Nazi Germany in 1943, when he is still a boy. He discovers a Jewish girl hiding in a closet with a porcelain unicorn in her hand, and lets her go so the soldiers cannot find her. After that, the time returns to the present, and a touching reunion awaits! The scene where they look at each other is impressive. This film has only six lines of dialogue, but the order of the story and the acting skills of the actors make it very easy to understand. Also, the dark and anxious music used at the beginning of the film is used in some places, and I feel it brings out the excitement of the audience. I think anyone who see this fateful reunion over the decades will be moved and make your heart warm. I would recommend you to see this film with your loved ones or close friends.

Beautiful unicorn

[banyaaaan-t · 7/10 · 19 July 2015]

This is about a memory of one old man. We can imagine somewhere in Germany during World War II. Boys play in a deserted house. However, it is a shelter for one Jewish girl. She hides there alone. Accidentally one of the boys meets the girl. They spend absolutely different life. However, through a beautiful ceramic unicorn, they feel something special and share it. But the beautiful moment ends immediately. Because of the Nazis, they are separated soon. He has her escaping from the army of Nazis. They cannot meet again for long long time. The friendship between them is momentary but strong. Also beautiful, at the same time, painful.

Thrilling but moving

[wknapriv · 8/10 · 12 January 2024]

"Porcelain Unicorn" is a drama about a German boy and a hiding Jewish girl in World War 2. The film starts with the scene of the old man, and switches to his memory. Three boys break into the house which already is vandalized and look for something. Then the door of the locker suddenly opens, and one boy finds the hiding girl. She has the Star of David on her arm and shows him a unicorn. Then the German army come into the house. This film is thrilling as we can be absorbed in it by the great camerawork.

Though there is some simple dialogue, the way the camera captures the scenes makes us feel like we are in the situation the boy faces. Furthermore, the acting of the little girl is great, so it is also the reason for us to experience the thrill. It is amazing that people come up with the story from predefined criteria. Therefore, I recommend this film as the camerawork and their acting are great.

Good technique

[hind-21501 · 6/10 · 28 June 2017]

This is a short story about a boy and a girl in Germany under the Nazis. Written for the Parallel Lines competition, this film has only six-lines of dialog.

I know it is difficult to make a good and unique story because the screenwriter must follow the competition rules. However, this film's story was a little bit ordinary for me. To be a memorable film, I think short films should be sensational because they are short. This film tells a simple story. Simple stories let audiences understand easily, but I think these often become boring works because they are predictable.

The story was too simple for me, but I admire the way to use the dialog. I do not say in detail to avoid spoiler, but the screenwriter used dialog very uniquely. In the competition, screenwriters can use preset six-line dialog and must follow the order. When you see the dialog without footage, you would think these dialog are between two people. I thought so. However, this film broke that thought in a great way. Therefore, before watching this film, please see the preset dialog and guess how it is used in the film.

So, this film is not memorable one for me in terms of the story, but I do not forget this easily because of way to use dialog.

Desire to an happy ending

[ohkf · 5/10 · 25 December 2021]

"Porcelain Unicorn" is a three-minute short film 2010, directed by Keegan Wilcox. It received an award at Parallel Lines. An old man looking for something using a piece of paper, finds a house reminding him of his childhood experience. During WW2, he sneaks into this house, and meets a Jewish girl in the hideout. The girl shows him a porcelain unicorn, but the SS officers come, and he cannot return the unicorn to the girl until he gets old.

Although the dialogue is pre-decided by the competition, those were not used simply in one context, and it makes the story more complex and profound. The boy is the member of Hitler Youth, and the girl is Jewish, so they are supposed to be enemies, but in this film, there are bounds between these children. The story ends in peace, but we know that it is not the regular case, because so many died in that tragedy. It show us the desire that we would understand each other, even if we are in hostility.

The big courage of a small boy

[ruckingham · 9/10 · 20 May 2018]

This short movie moves my heart. It is in World War 2 and a boy is main character. He is a German soldier and he found a Jewish girl in occupied house. Although he must catch her, he allows her to escape because of his conscience. We can catch characters feeling easily despite there are few words. For example, the girl's scary appearance looks real. Moreover, the boy's delusion is expressed by moving his eyes confusedly. By looking on her eyes many times, his delusion that he should catch her or not is expressed. In addition, I think that camerawork is nice. The conversation between the two occurs in a hidden hole in the house. It is dark. It is not easy to watch, and it is a very narrow space. There is no other intervention. Therefore, we can concentrate on only the two. Moreover, camerawork is very near to their faces because it is narrow space. To do that, we can feel their breathing and expression clearly.

Heart warming

[china-tr · 7/10 · 26 July 2016]

In Germany, an old man visits a house with a box. He looks back on his boyhood days in front of the house. In 1943, when he is a boy, he and two of his friends look for something in the house. Then he finds a Jewish girl is in hiding. She gives him the ornamental unicorn. However suddenly some German soldiers break the windows and come into the house with guns. He says get away to her and she escapes. He saves her. After that, he is found by the soldiers and he gives a soldier the unicorn. As the old man tries to return, an old woman appears from the house. She is the girl at that time. He and she can see each other again. He gives her the box. What is in the box?

The short film is only three minutes, but attracts people who watch it. I am surprised that they make such a good film by using only six designated dialogue. I like the heart warming ending after the war is over.

heart-warm

[sayuna · 5/10 · 21 July 2017]

This is really heart-warming story. I like the part where the old man and the old woman gaze at the ornament of unicorn. This unicorn connects him and her over the long time. I was a very moving scene. On the other hand, there are many puzzles. I wonder why the girl lurked in the chest. What are the boys doing? What were they seeking? The men wearing uniform are solders? I have a good time to think about these.