In three short minutes, Tomoki Kurogi’s appropriately named “Cycloid†makes you feel small and insignificant. As we sleep, millions of others lives still go on. Children play while wars are fought and flowers bloom.
But despite all the turmoil, “Cycloid,†appearing at this year’s Tribeca Film festival, manages to spark interest in the beautiful world around us.
Regardless of its lack of dialogue, ‘Cycloid†is an emotional journey. The hand-drawn animated film slowly pans the camera back and exits the apartment of a sleeping man in Japan. Soon after, we are brought to scenes of beautiful green fields and sandy beaches. The mood soon changes when we see war-torn countries and shady back-alley deals.
These things happen around us every day, but are not often thought about. It is refreshing to realize that the world does not revolve around an individual; we are just small pieces in a large universe.
The piano and violin that accompanies us through this tale- of a straight line around the world, is fitting and beautiful. It helps drive the emotion the film sets in place.
As the music ends, an alarm clock goes off and in an instant- the illusion is gone. We end up back in the Japanese apartment and we are back in the mind of the individual. The man goes on with his life and so do we.
“Cycloid†is short, sweet and packed with heart.
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