Trotteur is certainly one of the most visually impressive short films I've seen recently (including the Oscar nominees, and TIFF's favourite Canadian shorts). As others have noted, from its earliest frame, it does feel epic. However, it fails in the most basic part, which is storytelling.
It's not real clear what's happening. Is the human-vs-locomotive race real, or a metaphor? Where does the schoolyard fight come in? Was our hero trying to protect someone? What is the relationship of all that to the engine, and its ornament? With most of the focus on the race itself, these questions just aren't answered. I don't think the filmmakers knew, themselves, or they'd have told us.
Still, it's short enough to be worth seeing just for the visuals.
It's not real clear what's happening. Is the human-vs-locomotive race real, or a metaphor? Where does the schoolyard fight come in? Was our hero trying to protect someone? What is the relationship of all that to the engine, and its ornament? With most of the focus on the race itself, these questions just aren't answered. I don't think the filmmakers knew, themselves, or they'd have told us.
Still, it's short enough to be worth seeing just for the visuals.