The Monk and the Fish (1994) User Reviews

A simple short that is almost as surreal as 'The Old Lady and the Pigeons'

[Stompgal_87 · 7/10 · 27 November 2013]

I first saw this short at university when one of my animation tutors showed it to my class and we had to think of its narrative. I couldn't quite get the gist of the narrative at first but after a couple more viewings in my own time, I found it easier to follow.

The narrative itself involves a monk who attempts to catch a fish but with no avail. The animation is mostly smooth with an impressive use of squash and stretch at one point but it is blurry and choppy in places. The music has a medieval feel to it and it is also whimsical. I liked how the monk's actions moved in time with the music, which could be used to move the narrative. While the monks and the fish are straightforwardly drawn, the backgrounds are beautifully designed with subtle colours and a watercolour look to them that reminds me of 'Ernest and Celestine.' The most bizarre part is the ending where it looks as if the monk and the fish are floating towards heaven but then again this is hard to determine.

Overall this is a straightforward yet effective short with an unusual ending. 7/10.

Odd, energetic and engaging short with a perfect ending!

[llltdesq · 10/10 · 12 October 2002]

This has got to be one of the oddest cartoons I've seen in my life! With little to no dialogue, the animation and background artwork have to carry this one and do so superbly. The action is engaging, if not almost hypnotic at times and there is a plot, though it takes a bit to catch on. The ending is simply perfect and follows logically from events that came before. Absolutely must be seen, as words cannot do justice to this one. Most highly recommended.

Inspirational and beautiful.

[totenmaske0 · 10/10 · 18 April 2006]

From viewing this film, one can really read whatever they wish into the plot. A monk notices a fish swimming in the source of the monastery's water – with the lively animation we see the monk desperately trying to get the fish which climaxes in the final sense of journey in the last moments of this wonderful piece of animated art. A few viewings of this film, one can come away with a very symbolic journey of one's faith. Really a very powerful and beautiful work that opens the viewer to interpreting the film more deeply than what it presents on the surface.

For example you can take a small scene and read a lot of information within it: *Partial Spoiler* What one can construe from the scene where the other monks come by and not notice the fish even after the main character goes to such lengths as jumping about and what we perceive as exaggerated motions of the fish's existence – the fact that they cannot see the fish and ignore the monk, could suggest that the fish itself is a form of the monk's faith. Which would go to explain the later journey at the end of the film.

Overall very powerful, vibrant and beautiful work.

Not For Hollywood Fans

[samer-ibrahim-houssein · 10/10 · 23 September 2015]

I'm just going to mention my friend planktonrules from Florida that think this film is dull and pretentious, first of all you my friend are completely wrong sorry that the US had ruined your taste of art with all the Hollywood wave, as this film is a really deep art that was done actually by a genius of his time. check his other work to make sure. First of all this film is very deep as it interpret the idea of a holly person -the monk- that lived his whole life in one perspective only resembled in the church, gets a hint of of something different a new and different idea in the holly water that he cannot bare to hold. he has the urge to remove it from his mind by all means he cannot accept it. until the idea takes him away from his one perspective single view to another experience to see other angels, different ways and a journey to unite with this experience and idea in the end and that is shown in the ending scene when the monk and the fish keep fading until they are complete and unified. Secondly the film has a perfect timing technique where the music sync precisely with every move the monk or the fish does, I'm telling you as an animator this is not easy at all. Also the style is amazingly simplified but at the same time very expressive. Michael Dudok de Wit is one of the best animators and short film directors all over the world, his work is being taught to almost all animation colleges all over the world. and finally this is not cartoon

Great...if you like boring and pretentious!

[planktonrules · 5/10 · 1 September 2008]

I just can't believe that so far all the reviewers have given this cartoon a perfect score AND it was nominated for an Oscar! This is a cartoon that a small number of people will no doubt enjoy, but all children and many, many adults will find it a waste of time. I know this sounds harsh, but let's face it---there are many Oscar-nominated films that the average person would never watch or enjoy in a bijillion years and this is one of these films.

I didn't particularly enjoy the cartoon. At first, it seemed kind of cute to watch the very simply drawn monk jumping up and down trying to catch the fish...for about the first minute. About the only thing I enjoyed throughout was the music written by Corelli--a magnificent piece of music that was written in the very early Baroque period. Other than that, I am sorry but I must be a plebeian--it just didn't interest me in the least and seemed dull and pretentious.

The sound of one man fishing...

[acmelita · 10/10 · 9 January 2008]

Another beautiful journey brought to you by Academy Award winner, Michael Dudok de Wit. The chase, the frustration, the contemplation, the resignation all build to create this humorous tale.

It works on the simplistic level to amuse as you watch a monk try and try to catch a fish, reminiscent of Wily E. Coyote and his pursuit of the Road Runner (although in a completely different, much more mature artist style). But, c'mon, it's a monk, a man of the cloth, chasing a fish, a religious symbol of faith. The rhythm and pacing closely mirrors the traditional struggle of the questions of faith.

You can catch this DVD for five clams at www.Filmporium.com and net the other two shorts on the disc, "A Hunting Lesson" and "2D or Not 2D".

Not entirely bad, but just too simple

[Horst_In_Translation · 4/10 · 30 September 2016]

"The Monk and the Fish" is a 6-minute animated short film from 1994, so this one is already over 20 years old. Back then it was the first Oscar nomination for Dutch filmmaker Michael Dudok de Wit, out of 2 so far, and the one where he did not win the award. Here on IMDb, it says that this is a French(-language) film, but there is no audible language in here, just music that goes with the action we see. As the title already says this is the story of a monk who tries desperately to catch a fish, for the entire film almost, before something unexpected happens eventually. I cannot say I am too convinced. The animation style is always a matter of personal preference, but the story did not do too much for me and I found it not even convincing for such a little film that stays easily under the 10-minute mark. It's not a failure by any means, but it just didn't feel good enough to make an impact at all. It's very playful (especially the music), but nothing makes a difference here and it is certainly not Oscar(-nomination) worthy. I give it a thumbs-down. Final note: The filmmaker (in his 60s now) has his first full feature film out this year. Lets see how that goes.

Makes me proud to be living among such delicate people

[BlaS18 · 10/10 · 7 December 2019]

It completely depends on the viewpoint of the audience whether they would fall in love with this work or not. If you're the type that enjoys Nella Fantasia, I think you would enjoy this work too. I have been in love with this work for years and over time it only reminds me how meaningful and deep the story is. I admire the simplicity and cuteness of the animation. Every time I watch it, it fills me up with emotions.

PS: The music is Vivaldi's Sonata No. 12 in D minor "La Follia".

Watch it! (Easy enough to do, online)

[rzajac · 9/10 · 24 March 2012]

A wonderful little comic/cosmic gem.

Saw this, way back when, on a Tournee reel. It uses good old roll-up-yr-sleeves & get-yr-hands-dirty hand-painted cel animation, set to a nicely arranged theme and variations based on a Corelli tune.

The comic part is the quaintly frenetic jumps and gyrations of a monk. It seems to communicate his dedication and passion to get to the bottom of... well, of a fish. The fish just won't let go of his imagination. It's his White Whale. It's his karma, his penance.

The cosmic part has to do with what happens in the end. I showed this to a bunch of university students in Taipei, and one student said, "The monk found peace." Amen, to that! One commenter here calls it a waste of time. A waste of 6 minutes? Not to imply that every moment of our lives isn't precious, but when I think of someone degrading this tender little flick as a time-waster, I think of people who enjoy kicking puppies.

Oddly, the person who arranged the music isn't credited. He's Serge Besset, and he's worked for years on short animations. I had the privilege of seeing him in Taipei, in attendance at a retrospective of his work.

Bref: Go to YouTube and watch it!

The monk and the fish (1994) [Animation, Short, Musical] Michael Dudok de Wit

[dpolwatte · 9/10 · 5 December 2018]

Atmosphere, music and animation reminds of the childhood cartoon memories in the 90's. Reminds of "The princess and the cobbler (1993)".

Animation is very beautiful. It looks like a simple watercolor art making it a eye friendly art.

Music with the art makes it a beautiful cartoon because each and every movement of art have a flute or traditional music making it an amazing work of animation.

Overall a more poetic and artful depiction of short animation on obsession and a very simpler perspective to it.

The short film video I watched which is available in Youtube.com (search it from the title) has a description with the director where he discusses the art, music and story boards giving us a broader perspective on art.

Repetitious

[Hitchcoc · 5/10 · 22 October 2021]

A rather dull story of a monk, trying to catch a fish. He tries everything he can but nothing seems to work. I guess there is a mutual respect that develops, but on the whole not very entertaining.