La révolution des crabes (2004) User Reviews

Bizarre but cute

[planktonrules · 6/10 · 21 May 2009]

This is a bizarre but cute French language film told from the perspective of a small crab. His and the other crabs have a tough life but ultimately one learns that there is more to life than just running sideways.

The animation is all done in black and white and manages to have quite a lot of style. It also manages to make you laugh from time to time, making it fun. Additionally, despite being very short and not exactly life-changing, it is oddly watchable and compelling. Don't take my word for it--see it for yourself and see what I mean. It is all quite well done and cute.

Cute, clever interesting, funny and very engaging

[bob the moo · 19 April 2005]

In the brown waters of the Gironde estuary, between rocks repainted with fuel and the muddy sands that provides the best oysters in the world live the Pachygrapsus Mormatus – more commonly known as the "depressed crabs". Like ordinary crabs, the depressed crabs walk sideways; however they are cursed in a special way because they cannot turn around. Hence whatever straight line they are born in, it is that that they will be forced to walk for their lives. Some are lucky, some are unlucky but a time is coming where one crab will become the first to turn, change his destiny and lead a revolution (maybe).

There are people in this world who don't "do" short films. There are people in this world that don't "do" animation. And god love them because they are very much missing out, probably just living a diet fed from Hollywood via their 20 screen multiplexes. Anyway, this is one of several short films that I saw recently at a small festival and it is easily one of the most enjoyable for being the sort of film that you just love to watch and feel sad when it is finished. The clever and original premise (the crabs cannot alter their course) is well played out in such a way that it is interesting, touching, sweet and very funny. It is a simple tale but I bet you'll be held by it just as I was.

The animation is very cool – not overdone but with enough style and affection put into it to be consistently interesting to look at and it only adds to the charm and "sweet" atmosphere the whole thing has. Overall this is well worth hunting down and watching because it is the sort of memorable film that will stay with you. Not sure how widely available it is but it is yet another good reason to be watching short films whenever you can – they are truly the number one place to find innovative and original work.

an adorable film that will move you... sideways

[acmelita · 10/10 · 10 January 2008]

This is an inspiring film. It speaks to the plight of not just little depressed crabs but of anyone who feels trapped or stuck in one direction.

So charming. I dare you not to root for the crab with the big idea of how to turn sideways, instead of remaining doomed to only walk in one line their entire life. He is inspired to make a change when he almost gets flattened "after a catastrophe that only you humans can cause."

This short will put a smile on your face, guaranteed. I think you can pick up a copy at www.Filmporium.com The DVD ($5) comes with two other animated shorts, the hilarious "A Gentleman's Duel" and the introspective "Life in Transition".

MASTERFUL ABSOLUTLY STUNNING

[lumberlogger · 10/10 · 12 June 2019]

OMG SO GOOD I WATCHED IN FRENCH CLASS AND AM LITERALLY CRYING SUCH A GOOD FILM I WOULD DIE TO WATCH THIS AGAIN> LLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOOLO SO COOL AND GOOD SO COOL I LOVE THE CRABS WOW JE SUIS SUPER EXCITED FOR THE SEQUEL RUMORED TO HAPPEN IN 2090 10/10 would watch again

Fun and silly story of crabs that do what crabs can only do

[Polaris_DiB · 9/10 · 21 May 2007]

This animated short is delightful, probably because it's so simple. It's the story of a type of crab that is unable to walk any direction but sideways, without turning, making life pretty much a reaction of fate: where they are born determines what their life will be like. Or does it? It's amusing and well-designed. The characters are simply square shapes with legs, but damned in that funny narration doesn't give them the quality of characters you actually care about. I laughed and delighted at the fates of various crabs as they tried with great effort to experience the world in a way that makes sense to a sidewinding species. Ah, but there's a twist! I really like stuff like this and wish it had bigger distribution. You can find this on the Toofy Shorts, V.1 DVD, and animations like this are constantly being made.

--PolarisDiB

charming

[Kirpianuscus · 26 March 2021]

I saw it as a smart parable. About difference, nature, changes, about crabs in different versions, human included. Significant - it is just a lovely short animation, seductive for story, drawings and sweet - bitter humor.