This Unnameable Little Broom (1985)

Directors:

Keith Griffiths
Stephen Quay

Writers:

Keith Griffiths (writer)
Stephen Quay (writer)

Genre:

Animation | Short

Plot:

A red-clothed puppet lives in a room with a missing wall. He rides a tricycle. Gadgets surround him...

Plot Keywords:

Surrealism | Stop Motion | Independent Film

Also Known As:

Epic of Gilgamesh (UK) (alternative title)
Little Songs of the Chief Officer of Hunar Louse

Runtime:

11 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Mono

Company:

Koninck Studios

Movie Connections:

Edited into The Films of the Brothers Quay (1987)

Entrapment and Crickets

This is a fascinating little short that tells the tale of two incredibly fleshed out animated characters. One is a winged creature that falls into the trap of the other, a blond monster-person on a tricycle. It's not that simple, however. The imagery, though I don't profess to understand every last bit of it, was striking and surreal. This film targets the unconscious. It seeks to evoke a response through impressions and instinct. The animation is uncanny and beautiful, as these two characters are given grace, ferocity and emotion. The camera itself becomes an implement of the animation as it cuts frantically from side to side, with as much freedom as if a live-action scene were being filmed. This illusion is enhanced further by the deft focusing. This film must have taken such a tremendous amount of vision and effort, and the result is a commendable and evocative short film.