"Coda" is a 9-minute Irish short film from 2 years ago. The writer and director is Alan Holly and as neither he nor his co-writer Rory Byrne were very experienced when they make this I must say they came up with a good result overall. This short film has lessons and references on life and death from start to finish as well as on addiction, regret and other serious issues, so it's not one for small children to watch. Occasionally it reminded be a bit of the Irish full feature film in terms of the style, especially the scenes in the park. There is a slight touch of horror to the way death looks like. All in all, I enjoyed this film, even if i probably did not understand even 75% of it. The animation is not for everybody I am sure. The story is fine and pretty smart (almost to the degree of pretentious), but there are moments of greatness missing for me to be really enthusiastic about this movie. Still, all in all, also taking the fact that Holly is still a rookie into account, it's not a bad work. Recommended. This won actually a couple awards and also managed an Annie nomination (Animation Oscars). Oh yeah, Brendan Gleeson's son is in it as well. (not the one from "Six Shooter".
5 Reviews
Not to be mistaken for a Tom & Jerry or Bugs Bunny flick!
planktonrules4 April 2022
Simply animation-no faces on most Eric Carle-like
drunk leaves bar and is hit by car...soul gets up and walks away..he's dead
very surreal.
Irish
"Coda" is a very unusual and surreal animated short...and it's also most unique.
When the story begins, a drunk guy stumbles in front of a car and is killed. Soon, his soul leaves his body, meets Death and then has some surreal experiences...becoming a baby, meeting his dead family members and more.
The film has 'art film' written all over it...the sort of movie that does well at film festivals but probably will never be seen by all that many people. This isn't a complaint...more just about what sort of short it is.
Overall, thought provoking and unusual....with VERY simple animation (many characters don't even have faces) but which works fine with this sort of them and style.
Irish
"Coda" is a very unusual and surreal animated short...and it's also most unique.
When the story begins, a drunk guy stumbles in front of a car and is killed. Soon, his soul leaves his body, meets Death and then has some surreal experiences...becoming a baby, meeting his dead family members and more.
The film has 'art film' written all over it...the sort of movie that does well at film festivals but probably will never be seen by all that many people. This isn't a complaint...more just about what sort of short it is.
Overall, thought provoking and unusual....with VERY simple animation (many characters don't even have faces) but which works fine with this sort of them and style.
Very fine animation with a simple core plot but is surprisingly affecting
bob the moo5 July 2015
A drunken man stumbles out of a club when he is struck by a car and instantly killed. As a crowd gathers, his spirit continues its stumbling journey home – with Death following close behind, to collect him up.
There is an almost perfect calm stillness to this short film that it builds very well in the first half, then delivers on in the second half. The narrative is as simple as it sounds; a man sits with Death before the end comes, however it is the manner and tone of delivery that makes this animated film impact as it does. The tone is very thoughtful and calming, so while there is bargaining and fear of death (and Death) it is done in such a way that it captures the feeling of appreciating life and experiencing the beauty of it. This unfolds in particular in the second half, where the images and ideas are really very touching with their simplicity – not their simplicity in terms of what happens, but more the base feelings of the man and how easily they are connected to. We hear of this base fear and need in regard to the oft-told story of soldiers crying out for their mothers as they lie on the battlefield, and this short connects to that, but does so stripped of the emotional side of the fear, or the desperation at least.
The animation adds to this feeling, by having a great flow and design. It moves very smoothly and is very creative in what it shows and how it shows it; the first half is good but in particular the second half is very strong. It a very delicate film, with a simple idea, but it is surprisingly affecting, with a good understanding of the fear of death, and of the desire for more time and what we would do with it.
There is an almost perfect calm stillness to this short film that it builds very well in the first half, then delivers on in the second half. The narrative is as simple as it sounds; a man sits with Death before the end comes, however it is the manner and tone of delivery that makes this animated film impact as it does. The tone is very thoughtful and calming, so while there is bargaining and fear of death (and Death) it is done in such a way that it captures the feeling of appreciating life and experiencing the beauty of it. This unfolds in particular in the second half, where the images and ideas are really very touching with their simplicity – not their simplicity in terms of what happens, but more the base feelings of the man and how easily they are connected to. We hear of this base fear and need in regard to the oft-told story of soldiers crying out for their mothers as they lie on the battlefield, and this short connects to that, but does so stripped of the emotional side of the fear, or the desperation at least.
The animation adds to this feeling, by having a great flow and design. It moves very smoothly and is very creative in what it shows and how it shows it; the first half is good but in particular the second half is very strong. It a very delicate film, with a simple idea, but it is surprisingly affecting, with a good understanding of the fear of death, and of the desire for more time and what we would do with it.
Fascinating Existential Short
KyleLicht25 June 2020
This is a lovely short film snubbed by the Oscars. It features Death, as a very tall, womanly figure with a mask. The imagery on the bench reminds me of "My Neighbor Totoro".
The film deals with existentialism, death, and rebirth in a beautiful and creative way, exploring the human soul's desire to want more and more.
answer
Kirpianuscus5 November 2017
...to questions defining us. to fears, expectations, need of discover and understand than you live. and that does "Coda" more than a good film. but a ball of nostalgia and fragments of past, clear definition of life purpose, meet with sounds and flavors and dreams and new beginnings and roots/fruits of a new chance. it is one of the most useful animations. and this does it real special. like the sound of voice of grand father after the end of a fairy tale preserving yourself as character of it.
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