In the build-up to the 98th Academy Awards, I tried to watch as many of the Oscar-nominated short films that I could. Some were readily available on YouTube, others were readily available on HBO Max, Disney+, or Netflix, and then there were four films that I don’t think I had the opportunity to see, either due to them not being made available or due to me not having the right subscription that would allow me to watch them. In any case, in this article, I have collected my short reactions to the four live-action shorts, four animated shorts, and three documentary shorts that I got the chance to see. And, as luck would have it, that meant I got to see the eventual winners, including in the historic tie category. Let’s get to my reactions.
Live-Action
A Friend of Dorothy | Directed by Lee Knight | Runtime: 22 minutes | Outcome: Didn’t win.
A pleasant, sentimental, and well-shot live-action short with some notable relatively famous cast members. I really like the focus on spending time with and caring for the elderly. Not quite as memorable as The Singers, but it is solid-enough.
Jane Austen’s Period Drama | Directed by Julia Aks and Steve Pinder | Runtime: 13 minutes | Outcome: Didn’t win.
This is a satire of Pride and Prejudice that makes fun of not just the period-setting but also of how undereducated the average man, throughout history, has been on what it means to be a woman. Does it have its moments? For sure, but it is also the same joke over snd over again, which makes it feel too long, even at 12-to-13 minutes. It definitely feels more like an extended sketch video than an Oscar-nominated short film.
The Singers | Directed by Sam A. Davis | Runtime: 18 minutes | Outcome: Won the Oscar (Tie).
Everyone has a song, a story, to tell. — You know, this was pretty good. A very enjoyable little short that was shot really well, and which had some strong musical moments. It also ends on what feels like a deliberately funny surprising operatic note. I think this will go down smoothly for most.
Two People Exchanging Saliva | Directed by Alexandre Singh and Natalie Musteata | Runtime: 36 minutes | Outcome: Won the Oscar (Tie).
This is a dystopian and deliberately absurd live-action short film about a world where kissing is strictly forbidden, where you pay for items by being slapped in the face, where you use garlic chewing gum to avoid having anyone throw themselves at you, and where toothpaste is an illegal product sold as if it were drugs. It is presented with a straight face, in black-and-white, is in French, is divided into chapters, and is arguably the most unique and fascinating live action short nominated this year. Despite being on the long side, I really enjoyed this one. The acting, the filmmaking, and the use of absurdist element to speak to a real world issues (like being in an oppressive surveillance state that punishes displays of affection, freedom of expression, and any form of identity being on display) all work really well.
Documentary
All the Empty Rooms | Directed by Joshua Seftel | Runtime: 34 minutes. | Outcome: Won the Oscar.
Devastating. I do, however, agree with those who have argued that it focuses on the reporter for perhaps a little bit too long. I think, if you’re going to do that (focus so much on him, his story, his need to say something), then it would’ve helped for him to more directly argue for gun legislation or the like. Its closing note should perhaps be stronger.
Armed Only with a Camera: The Life and Death of Brent Renaud | Directed by Brent Renaud and Craig Renaud | Runtime: 39 minutes. | Outcome: Didn’t win.
A solid tribute to Mr. Renaud. A powerful testament to the work of a photojournalist, and exactly how important they are in times of crisis, war, famine, etc. That said, I totally understand the ‘highlight reel’ criticism that some have thrown its way.
The Devil Is Busy | Directed by Christalyn Hampton and Geeta Gandbhir | Runtime: 32 minutes. | Outcome: Didn’t win.
An important, powerful documentary. Bodily autonomy is an essential human right. Abortion is a right. It is healthcare.
Animated
Butterfly | Directed by Florence Miailhe | Runtime: 15 minutes. | Outcome: Didn’t win.
This is arguably the most jaw-dropping of the nominated shorts. It tells the story of Olympic swimmer Alfred Nakache, from a young boy and through his time at Auschwitz. Not only is the oil-painting-like, seemingly hand-drawn animated jaw-droppingly good, but the story is extremely well told and shocking; equal parts eye-opening and devastating. It takes you on a journey, and I was wowed by it from minute one all the way until the end.
Forevergreen | Directed by Nathan Engelhardt and Jeremy Spears | Runtime: 14 minutes. | Outcome: Didn’t win.
This is a good-hearted animated short film about a bear in the woods and the tree he befriends. It is eventually deeply moving, as it tugs on your heartstrings. The central message about friendship, loyalty, and preserving nature is very good and important. I also really appreciate the gorgeous tactile wooden-like 3D animation. I will say the fact that it’s not actually stop-motion but solely made to appear that way took me out of it in the first minutes.
The Girl Who Cried Pearls | Directed by Chris Lavis and Maciek Szczerbowski | Runtime: 17 minutes. | Outcome: Won the Oscar.
This is an incredibly well-realized stop-motion period fantasy animated short. It looks phenomenal, from the fluidity of the stop-motion to the movement of the camera, but I will agree with those who have opined that character faces and eyes take away from the immersion, as they seriously lack expression.
Retirement Plan | Directed by John Kelly | Runtime: 8 minutes. | Outcome: Didn’t win.
This is a surprisingly affecting animated short. The animation style is relatively simple and yet effective, and it pairs well with Domhnall Gleeson’s equal parts soothing and sad vocal performance. It manages to be both quietly devastating and really funny, and it gets through a lot in its short runtime, as it emphasizes the universal worry about whether we will ever have enough time to do what we want to do, if we keep having to put things off till tomorrow, next week, next month, next year, or, as we see here, when we retire.
– Written by Jeffrey Rex Bertelsen.
I'm Jeffrey Rex 