Saw this on the great SBS program 'Shorts On Screen', and this is definitely one of the best shorts I've seen so far on this series. The story centres on Berni, who works in a cat food factory and lives alone in a run-down apartment. Like his repetitive job, his life is like an assembly line. Wake up, drive to work, do his eight hours, drive home, watch TV, and go to bed. One day Berni sees a commercial advertising female torsos as the perfect companion. Selling his car, Berni buys an African 'model', which promptly arrives on his doorstep. What follows is a beautifully realised look at what it means to be treated as an equal and with respect, and just being treated like an object. There is no dialogue, but writer/director Yann Jouette brilliantly takes us on an emotional journey in a very short period of time. His message is clear without being heavy-handed. The animation is stunning, making Berni and the world in which he lives both vivid and incredibly stylish.
3 Reviews
Berni's Bride of Frankenstein
johno-2129 August 2008
Warning: Spoilers
I recently saw this at the 2008 Palm Springs Short Fest. This is the story of Berni, a lonely bachelor who lives in a drab apartment and works a dead-end job in the lowliest position at a cat food factory. Berni see's an ad on TV for that sells body parts manufactured in French supervised factories in third world nations and buys a African female torso. His loneliness is eased and his job productivity improves and he eventually orders more parts including Mexican arms, Eastern European legs and an Asian head until he has a complete multi racial human replica to be his companion and do his household chores and satisfy his sexual desires as his life and work continues to improve. This 11 minute animated black and white film was three years in the making and is the fourth short film from director/writer Yann Jouette who's other shorts are The Faktory, Leon & Gundule and Space Feet Attack. Shot in black and white with plenty of gray and no dialog Jouette who simply goes by Yann J is the film's writer/director and does the modeling, texturing, compositing and lighting. Joining Jouette are animators Andres Gomez, Kaily Decken, Geoffrey de Crécy and Maud Henry. This has won several festival awards around the world and is a wonderful short. I would recommend it and give it an 8.0 out of 10.
Something fascinating and nightmarish
Rectangular_businessman14 July 2012
Warning: Spoilers
Very interesting and original short, with a nightmarish atmosphere and a strange but fascinating history, filled with a dark sense of irony.
In many ways, it could be seen as a satirical portrayal of modern life, showing the daily routine of a lonely man, and how he tries to "build" a serious relationship through one product he buys.
The character's designs are very stylish and well done, combining some realistic elements with cartoonish proportions in a very effective manner.
The result is something unique, a worth-watching experience which is twisted, but at the same time strangely endearing.
In many ways, it could be seen as a satirical portrayal of modern life, showing the daily routine of a lonely man, and how he tries to "build" a serious relationship through one product he buys.
The character's designs are very stylish and well done, combining some realistic elements with cartoonish proportions in a very effective manner.
The result is something unique, a worth-watching experience which is twisted, but at the same time strangely endearing.
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