EssenceStory Well Deserved Praise

StunnaKrypto Self-important, over-dramatic, uninspired.

Baseshment I like movies that are aware of what they are selling... without [any] greater aspirations than to make people laugh and that's it.

Staci Frederick Blistering performances.

MartinHafer This is a film I wanted to love but could not. This is because although I liked what I saw, the film ended way too soon and this interfered with the narrative. So, it seems like the story was abruptly clipped and this left me feeling annoyed. Perhaps this film was a student project or they ran out of funds--either way, I wanted more! As for the animation, it was very, very unusual. The backgrounds were lovely and appeared to be computer generated. As far as the characters went, it looked like the face and hands of the characters were digitized from real people and animated by filling in the rest of the body. The effect, while not the most beautiful I have ever seen, is still very striking and you can't help but stop and say "wow". I would really, really love to know more about exactly how they did this and what sort of software was involved--it sure left me wonderin'.Story-wise, I can't really comment. I liked what I saw but needed more.

bob the moo On a small Kalahari farm things look bleak. It hasn't rained for ages and the well has run dry and the residents are just about hanging on with what little they have. As the farmers' daughter prepares to gamble on the final few seeds they have left something appears on the horizon which could be the salvation they have been praying for.Although this film is light on apparent plot it still manages to be rather involving in terms of substance with a moving tale simply delivered and with a good atmosphere. Inspired by her won childhood in Lesotho, Taylor has written a simple story that is delivered without words and a lot of emotion delivered in the body language of the characters. The loss of parents and the existence on the poverty line is palatable and the silence only serves to emphasis the situation.The animation is strange – at times very basic looking stuff but with faces that look very real. The atmosphere is very convincing and adds to the feeling that the film has been made by someone who knows what they are talking about. With little plot, the animation needed to be a good hook to draw you in as well as delivering emotion from their looks and situation – it does manage it and it more than makes up for the lack of punch in the main narrative.Overall a simple but enjoyable film that has an interesting and emotionally involving little story as well as looking great with an unique and atmospheric animation.