THE SOUNDS OF THINGS ABLAZE is playing at SBIFF (Santa Barbara International Film Festival), and I had the opportunity to see an early look – here’s my spoiler-free take:
One of my favorite memories of going to Sundance years ago was meeting the indie animation legend, Bill Plympton (THE TUNE). I bring this up not to name-drop, but to say I miss animated hand-drawn shorts and features. Audiences are over-inundated with computer-animated features and films that mix computer animation with 2D animation. That’s why I get so excited when a uniquely hand-drawn animated short like THE SOUNDS OF THINGS ABLAZE is released.
In the film, a woman’s shoes walking on the sidewalk quickly turn into a dreamscape of war, trauma, and women’s perseverance. With a limited runtime, the short elegantly captures mood and emotion. This is thanks to animator and director Hayat Najm’s use of charcoal 2D drawings in black, white, and gold. She wisely refrains from making big animated splashes and keeps things smaller, which adds to the intimacy in her film.
Elsewhere, the hauntingly beautiful piano score by Jean-Michel Blais reminded me of Max Richter (HAMNET) or Ludovico Einaudi (if you know him, you know just how good his classical music is). The way the delicate piano melodies intertwine with the stark yet elegant visuals enhances the film’s exploration of themes, bringing the audience closer to the characters’ journey.
Final Thought: THE SOUNDS OF THINGS ABLAZE is a meditative short that’s for audiences who miss 2D animation and are more interested in mood pieces than a complete story. For me, I’m thankful I saw Najm’s film and excited to see what she could make with a bigger budget and, of course, partnering with Jean-Michael Blais again.
THE SOUND OF THINGS ABLAZE premieres at SBIFF on Mon 2/9 – 12:00 PM
