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.

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.

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.

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.

Unexpected

[bongiovi-44006 · 9/10 · 9 August 2017]

It is so awesome that only six lines can stretch the story so far. This storie is about a German boy and a Jewish girl during the world war. He saves her from Nazi soldiers but he cares that her small porcelain unicorn was broken. So he went to see her again to give her the new one for the first time in about six or seven decades.

It was a very impressive scene that the girl said "beautiful" looking at the symbol of Jewish. And the boy also seemed to have no prejudice toward that.

I thought the story was heartwarming and unique to Germany.

preciousness of unicorn

[bbc-ohs · 6/10 · 25 July 2016]

This story is about a boy, a girl, and a doll of unicorn. In the opening of the movie, a old man brings a box to a house. Then, it changes to a scene of recollection. In the scene, three boys search something in ruins. A boy who is main character of the movie hear something sound from a wall. I thought the movie is horror in this scene. In fact, a boy enters the wall and investigates it, there was a girl. The girl is scared of him. However, she shows a doll of a unicorn. Then, soldiers enter the ruins. The boy tells her to run away from here to protect her. She gives the unicorn to him. But, the unicorn is broken by soldiers. In the scene of recollection, the old man is going to leave the house , but the door is opened. There is an old woman. Maybe, the old man is the boy of recollection and the old woman is the girl. I think the old man returned the unicorn to her.

What we mustn't forget

[rinachoco · 9/10 · 8 January 2024]

'Porcelain Unicorn' is a drama about an old German man. When he was a boy, they were at war. Now, he is old, and he comes back to a house. He remembers the day he met a girl. When he was young, his friends and he visited this house. They found the girl who was hiding in a cabinet. She wears a yellow star. She shows him a toy unicorn, and he says, "Never seen one up close before." At that time, the military enter the house by force. He urges her to flee, but nobody knows if she is alive or not. This story tells us the message that we mustn't forget the cruelty of war and what they did. And also, I thought his act of bravery is worth praise. I want to be brave, too. Besides, they speak little, but this story creates a strong image. This is a great short and well worth seeing.

unicorn is a bridge

[riodejaneirofl · 7/10 · 9 August 2017]

What is that? It's a unicorn. Never seen one up close before. Beautiful. Get away. Get away. I'm sorry.

In this movie, only these six sentences are used. We first realize this scene was about 1940's by the scene that focuses on the mark "star of David" on her clothes. It's a symbol of Jewish nation. Men whose appearance is scary are maybe the Nazis. In the third line, the period backgrounds were expressed. The boys who seem to find something were maybe working under them. One of the boys looked at the mark and said to her "Never seen one up close before." The time of Jew-baiting, he saw the mark so close and longer for the first time. I think then he realized the beauty of the believing what she thinks is right, that it is beautiful. So, when the unicorn is broken by a man, he must feel empty. How else would he send her a unicorn when he got old? Unicorn is their bridge. It saved both of them. If their destiny had been over at that time, I would have felt inconsolable grief.

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

[naotabe · 8/10 · 13 December 2023]

This is the story about the memory of a porcelain unicorn between a German boy and Jewish girl. The old man visits a house and stands in front of the door with a gift in his hands. Then he recalls his old memory. He met the hiding Jewish girl in the house. Then he got close to her and she gave him a porcelain unicorn. It is a beautiful story. There are few lines of dialog in this short film, but you can understand the content easily. Each line has a good meaning. It is a story about Germany during the war, and it is touching to see them reunited over time. I think this short film is a reminder of the importance of peace. There is still war going on in the world today. Therefore, I hope all people will see this film. It is a film that makes you think about war and about human love.

Good movie

[kurohdo91 · 7/10 · 13 January 2024]

I saw Porcelain Unicorn. This story is very easy to read and understand as it connects the story during the war and after the war is over. I have never been to war, but it is very easy to watch, even the not-so-good portrayal is handled in a pop way. I was very moved by the story and loved it. This story shows us that even in a world without war, human kindness does not disappear and cannot disappear even if there is a war. We have learned through this story that we cannot live without helping each other. I was very moved by the small acts of kindness in the midst of war, and the spirit of help that we have not forgotten since childhood.

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.

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.

A unicorn plays an important part

[sepwaltz · 8/10 · 29 June 2015]

A unicorn plays an important part in this movie. The opening of this story seems cruel and sad. However, a toy unicorn connects two people and in the end, this story moves and impresses us deeply. This movie is well constructed because the period of time covered in this story is not short. This is a short movie, but it contains a story spanning several decades. We can realize the characters bear many hardships and they have tender hearts. The characters are dragged into a war so it seems sad story but I think it is very beautiful and heart-warming story. It shows span well so I feel it is large-scale movie. And I didn't lose interest in spite of the time. I recommend you to watch this wonderful movie. It will move your heart.

What the war bring

[myqkbt · 7/10 · 24 December 2021]

"Porcelain Unicorn" is a film which is set in Germany during the war. The main character of this film is a German boy. He finds a Jewish girl who is alone and scared in a locker. What action does he take ?How does the story develop? The key point of the film is the porcelain unicorn. I want you to watch the film and check the development. I was moved by seeing this film because I found that it is significant to encounter someone and cherish those who are involved with me like friends and family. I can believe that encountering someone and cherishing my friends make our lives happy and rich. If you have a concern about relationships with your friends, I recommend that you watch the film. You will find the belief of how to have something to do with your friends by watching the film, I think.

Human goodness

[Indiana-Harrison · 8/10 · 9 August 2017]

During World War 2, some boys sneak into an abandoned house. One boy finds a hidden space and he meets a Jewish girl. When the boy meets the girl, there's no racial tension between them. They are just children who happen to meet each other. They talks for a little. But their chat is disturbed by the Nazis. The boy tells the girl to get away. He protects her without hesitation. His action doesn't relate to his principle about racial issues. He protects her because he knows what comes to her if they find her and he doesn't like it. He follows his conscience. Consciences are a very human thing. They consists of a sympathy for others and reason. No other animals have these things. Time passes and an old man, who was the boy, sits next to an old lady who was the girl. He shows her the porcelain unicorn she gave him at that time. It was broken by the Nazis, but he repairs it. I thought this unicorn is a symbol of human goodness. Sometimes they are broken by some people, but they never stay broken. This film shows us that people can be good despite the environment where they live.

past and present

[momockinoco · 6/10 · 22 December 2021]

This short film "Porcelain Unicorn" was made in 2010. The genre is drama. This movie is about the past and the present. The past is the age of war. Three boys were in a building. Then, they heard a sound in the closet. Two out of three escaped, one of them opened the closet and went in. There was a girl in the closet. She had a porcelain unicorn in her hand. In the present, they are back together again, where there is a unicorn. This movie insists on the connection between people. Like the unicorn in this movie, something that triggers it connects people over time. I like this movie very much. I want to recommend this film to many people.

Deep but too short

[nobuyuki_shinoh · 8/10 · 3 March 2019]

This only 3 min short film gave me a thought when I first time watched it in the class, when the teacher played it on screen, I did not really know how it suppose to mean when and old man comes to a house, then when the scene quickly flashbacks then I realized that the old man has the history of saving that Jewish girl which is probably the old woman in the last scene, at the final, both proves to be in the good friendship when the old man gave the porcelain unicorn to the old woman

Natural lines

[dreameable · 7/10 · 3 June 2018]

The movie explores the relationship between a Nazi boy and a Jewish girl. The boy finds the girl in an abandoned house. The boy help the girl out from trouble when they were young, they have a chance to meet each other again after many years have passed. The story starts with the scene that flash forward to almost the end of the story, after that they start to recall the events in the past. There are only 6 lines in this movie since they are fixed in the competition. But the emotional scene and visual story telling by actor is very strong. The audience can fall deep into the movie within the 3 minutes period. I considered this film genre as a thriller since it makes I fall into an excitement and flow with the character emotional and situation easily. The movie use unicorn model as a key item of the movie. The boy keeps pieces of broken unicorn model to remind him of the girl he helped. The unicorn plays the important role throughout the movie, from their first met, separated, and reunited again. We can say that the entire movie has a unicorn model as a connector.

Unicorn is used well

[nobaryuta · 4/10 · 5 July 2021]

The short film "Porcelain Unicorn" starts where an old guy tries to find something, holding a casket. Then, we cut to a scene goes where young German boys during World War 2 seek something in an abandoned building. They hear some sounds from the locker and two of three boys escape from there. A boy opens that locker and sees something moving. Going through by the light of a lighter, he finds a Jewish girl. She gives him a little statue of a unicorn, and suddenly, the big noise resonates in the room. The adult soldiers come in the room, and the boy urges the girl to escape.

This short film uses limited dialogue really well. Every single utterance is used without waste.

Using the statue of a unicorn as a key thing, the line"It's a unicorn" is really natural in the story. Also, the story between German and Jew makes us imagine the situation and background much easier.

Very deep short film

[yasumaru-32948 · 10/10 · 12 January 2024]

Porcelain Unicorn is a very deep short film about the discrimination against Jews. This film starts with the scene where an old man who has a box is walking to a house. He looks like he remembers something because he looks sad and dark. After that, we can see his past. In Germany in 1943, when he was little, he and his friends break into the house and try to find good (expensive) things. They are all German. Then, they realize there is something in the locker. Though his friends run away, he checks inside the locker. Then, there is a girl who looks the same age as him. She wears a star armband on her arm indicating her Jewish identity. She says the star is beautiful and the girl hands over her unicorn toy. Then, some German soldiers come to the house. In the last scene, we come to know that the old man is the boy and brings the unicorn to the old woman who is that girl. I was really impressed with the pure bond between the German boy and Jewish girl. I learnt that children understand each other regardless of differences and that it is a very important thing for modern people. I feel that every actor plays their role expressively and there is no wasted scene in this short film. I could feel a lot of things in this film.

Good story

[invertedforest-70474 · 7/10 · 21 July 2015]

This film is very short: under 5 minutes. However it condenses a lot of time through characters behavior, I think. I get good impressions from watching some stories which contain flow to far time and distant places. I don't know why, but I like those things and don't dislike this film.

At first, this film shows Germany, 1943. Basically, we know something about it, and it makes me imagine about this short film's rough background. I'm not so familiar with the details of Germany history that I can't know why three German boys play at a Jewish house, why that Jewish girl doesn't run away when she notices that boy and why three Germany soldiers don't find more about where that boy comes from. I can't know those answers. However I enjoyed it.

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.