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.

I was moved.

[Mokka-mocha45 · 8/10 · 7 August 2017]

When I watched this film, I thought a setting of this film was interesting first. In flashback, I found this setting was concerned with the Nazus from Germany and Star of David. I have learned the Jewish people were forced to put it on their clothes, so I understood a little girl is a Jewish person. She said "Beautiful" with her Star of David showing. I think she takes pride in her race and nationality. I don't know whether this story in nonfiction, but it is the truth that people who were proud of being the Jewish people such as the little girl were persecuted, so this film is short but I think it taught us the important thing we must nit forget. This film's title, "Porcelain Unicorn" fills the important role in this film. I think this beautiful porcelain unicorn show the Jewish people. The little girl treasured it. The German boy also cherished it, so I think he was not going to hurt the Jewish people. However a German soldier crushed it, after that it was mended by the old man who was the German boy, so I also suppose this porcelain unicorn shows "peace."

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

A real love for someone

[ypandalove · 9/10 · 14 June 2017]

This story is a moving story during World War Ⅱ. The film is constructed by only six phrases. It is surprising that three to four minutes screen time is made by limited words. An elderly man holds a box in front of an apartment. Then he remember the past under Nazi occupation. The boy - the elderly man's childhood - and his friends explores the collapsing building. There is no wonderful thing, but he finds a noise from a shelf. His friends go away and he tries to check inside of the shelf. Inside of the shelf is like a cave and there is a little girl. She holds an unicorn doll and there is a yellow star on the arm. Suddenly, some Nazi soldiers enter the apartment and the boy sets the girl free. The last scene of this film gives us a great impression and a sense of security. I feel a real love for someone comes through some hardship.

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.

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 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.

Moving

[maiiiiebiiii · 8/10 · 22 December 2021]

"Porcelain Unicorn" is a short documentary film. The story begins when an old man visits a house. Then the time flashes back to 1943 in Germany, a boy (who may be a member of the Nazi Youth) finds a girl with a star on her arm in the ransacked room. If it is true, they should be enemies, but the boy receives a porcelain unicorn from the girl. And when Nazis comes to the house, he tells her to get away.

The film was very moving. Strictly speaking, they should be enemies, but they face each other, and the boy tells the girl to run away. It depicts the purity of children that is not constrained by stereotypes and ideology.

It has only six lines of dialogue. Also, the order of the story is different from a normal film. It begins with the scene that a main character is an old man and visits a house. Nevertheless, the audience can easily understand the content. So, I think the structure of this film is very good. It is worth watching.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Compassion amongst oppression

[ManOfKino · 8/10 · 20 June 2018]

In the present day, an old German man stands in front of a house holding a box. A long time ago, a group of children who are part of the Hitler Youth break into a house, and one of them makes an unexpected and dangerous discovery.

Porcelain Unicorn is a very short but effective wartime drama film. One of the most remarkable things about it is how well it sets the atmosphere in the World War II flashbacks despite its length and being set in a single location. The set, the costumes and the props felt rather authentic to me, and I thought that the lighting was used well to set up the interior of the dark and dilapidated building that is broken into. The split time structure works well thanks to the fact that we are not able to immediately understand what the old man wants to do and what he has inside the box. I thought that both the child and adult actors were quite good. Although there isn't a lot of dialogue overall, we are able to observe the main characters for a relatively long time.

The story can be said to be mainly about relations between Jews and Germans in Nazi Germany. It reminds us that although atrocity and mistreatment were the norm, not all people acted according to expectations or ideology, and could even put their own safety at risk in order to act humanely. I think that this is always something important to remember in a world where populations risk being divided and are being divided.

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.

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.

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.