As a train makes its way over mountaintops, it come upon a cow. Hitting the cow sends the train out of control. Soon the ones running the train begin to find ways to get fuel to keep the train going, including taking the clothes of the people in one of the cars. The rich, uncaring ones in the engine and the front cars begin celebrating, but there are tougher times ahead. Quite exciting and rather harsh.
5 Reviews
An odd inclusion...
planktonrules19 February 2010
This animated film was included with the special showing of the 2010 Oscar-nominated short films as one of the non-nominated but highly commended films. However, I thought this was an odd choice as I wasn't the least bit bowled over by it and I have seen many cartoons also sponsored by the National Film Board of Canada that were much better. Now you can't blame RUNAWAY for this--it's not a bad film at all, but it just seemed to be featured a bit out of its league.
The film has traditional style animation--something that's become rarer these days. The drawing style is very simple and the story is done without many words at all. The music is pretty nice and works well with the film.
As for the story, it's very, very simple. There is a train that is chugging down the tracks with a conductor (they call him a "captain" here and he wears a naval-type uniform, however) who doesn't pay much attention. Because of this, the train strikes a cow and then soon goes careening out of control. The guy shoveling coal is forced to drive--with dire consequences. Overall, it's a very simple story with a bit of a sense of humor, but it's also pretty average from a NFB film.
The film has traditional style animation--something that's become rarer these days. The drawing style is very simple and the story is done without many words at all. The music is pretty nice and works well with the film.
As for the story, it's very, very simple. There is a train that is chugging down the tracks with a conductor (they call him a "captain" here and he wears a naval-type uniform, however) who doesn't pay much attention. Because of this, the train strikes a cow and then soon goes careening out of control. The guy shoveling coal is forced to drive--with dire consequences. Overall, it's a very simple story with a bit of a sense of humor, but it's also pretty average from a NFB film.
An almost perfect short by Cordell Barker
llltdesq6 June 2015
Warning: Spoilers
This is an animated short directed by Cordell Barker and produced by the National Film Board of Canada. There will be spoilers ahead:
I love Cordell Barker's work, so I admit I'm a bit biased here. Your tastes may vary, but when you have his batting average (admittedly, three shorts is a slim portfolio for a director) you're doing something right. The Cat Came Back is probably his best and best-known work, but Runaway does him credit.
The title refers to a runaway train, which becomes a runaway after running into a cow on the tracks. The train hits the cow because the Captain (the engineer is wearing a captain's uniform) becomes distracted and leaves the engine with a female passenger, leaving the fireman alone to try to salvage a disaster. It becomes increasingly clear that nothing will prevent the inevitable train wreck.
The train has two cars and a caboose. Those in the caboose are inattentive or asleep and they're the first ones lost, when the caboose flies free and disappears. No one notices, because the passengers in the first car are well-to-do types dressed in formal attire and celebrating reservedly with champagne. In contrast, the passengers in the second car are more ordinary, working class types, celebrating more boisterously and enthusiastically.
No one even realizes there's a problem until the fireman rather meekly comes back to say the train needs more fuel and then everyone freaks. The passengers in the second car immediately begin finding everything and anything they can which could even remotely be fuel, passing it through the first car to the engine. In the end, they learn that no good deed goes unpunished, though it's also possible that they may be better off in the long run anyway.
The solution is only temporary and the passengers in the first car receive a rude awakening and panic all over again. Then, the Captain exits a stateroom with the lady and is greeted by the passengers as a savior, overlooking the fact that his stupidity and inattention led to the problem in the first place.
He returns to the engine, but once again is distracted. A certain poetic justice is administered with regard to the Captain. The engineer has a bittersweet conclusion and the ending is as hilarious as it is disturbing.
This short is available through the NFB and is also available on DVD from Animation Show of Shows and is well worth watching. Most recommended.
I love Cordell Barker's work, so I admit I'm a bit biased here. Your tastes may vary, but when you have his batting average (admittedly, three shorts is a slim portfolio for a director) you're doing something right. The Cat Came Back is probably his best and best-known work, but Runaway does him credit.
The title refers to a runaway train, which becomes a runaway after running into a cow on the tracks. The train hits the cow because the Captain (the engineer is wearing a captain's uniform) becomes distracted and leaves the engine with a female passenger, leaving the fireman alone to try to salvage a disaster. It becomes increasingly clear that nothing will prevent the inevitable train wreck.
The train has two cars and a caboose. Those in the caboose are inattentive or asleep and they're the first ones lost, when the caboose flies free and disappears. No one notices, because the passengers in the first car are well-to-do types dressed in formal attire and celebrating reservedly with champagne. In contrast, the passengers in the second car are more ordinary, working class types, celebrating more boisterously and enthusiastically.
No one even realizes there's a problem until the fireman rather meekly comes back to say the train needs more fuel and then everyone freaks. The passengers in the second car immediately begin finding everything and anything they can which could even remotely be fuel, passing it through the first car to the engine. In the end, they learn that no good deed goes unpunished, though it's also possible that they may be better off in the long run anyway.
The solution is only temporary and the passengers in the first car receive a rude awakening and panic all over again. Then, the Captain exits a stateroom with the lady and is greeted by the passengers as a savior, overlooking the fact that his stupidity and inattention led to the problem in the first place.
He returns to the engine, but once again is distracted. A certain poetic justice is administered with regard to the Captain. The engineer has a bittersweet conclusion and the ending is as hilarious as it is disturbing.
This short is available through the NFB and is also available on DVD from Animation Show of Shows and is well worth watching. Most recommended.
brilliant parable on capitalism
gsloan-42-3829021 July 2014
Warning: Spoilers
This film can be watched on two levels, either as a superficial story about a runaway train and a cow, or as a brilliant parable about capitalism run amok. It seems to be about privilege and class and exploitation of resources, and who profits and who loses from said exploitation. There is however a note of hope at the end, which can seem grimly apocalyptic if it weren't for the cow, comparable to the flower at the end of a similar parable by James Thurber entitled "The Last Flower." The music owes a great deal to Raymond Scott, whose delightful compositions were leased by Warner Bros. back in the 1950s. It also owes a slight debt to Jacques Tati's brand of mime comedy, where occasional muttered dialogue has little to do with our appreciation of the humorous and/or dire situations represented. I have watched this gem at least a dozen times and hope to enjoy it a dozen more.
a cow and a tiny dog
Kirpianuscus27 May 2023
A cow hitted by a train. And a chain of events about a tinny fireman looking for to secure the trip, a seduced captain and the cynical solution of high class for fix the problems.
Ironic, energetic, amusing and absurd, this short animation has the gift to remind all the flavors of childhood and the realistic situations who seem , in so many occasions, just normal. The result - a sort of warning about social relations, price of survive, improvisations for save the critic situations and ladys charm .
The stars - the cow, winner in the tough situation and, no doubts, the tiny black dog , risking to be used as combustible.
So, just charming.
Ironic, energetic, amusing and absurd, this short animation has the gift to remind all the flavors of childhood and the realistic situations who seem , in so many occasions, just normal. The result - a sort of warning about social relations, price of survive, improvisations for save the critic situations and ladys charm .
The stars - the cow, winner in the tough situation and, no doubts, the tiny black dog , risking to be used as combustible.
So, just charming.
See also
Awards | FAQ | User Ratings | External Reviews | Metacritic Reviews
