Loneliness

(Einsamkeit)

GDR, 1979, 2 min, color
No dialogue
Credits:
Director
Script
Dramaturg
Editor
Camera
Music (Score)
Themes & Genres:

Synopsis

Will this be another Christmas he spends by himself? As it turns out, the merry fire brigade has other plans for this widower.

 

This short film is available for purchase or streaming as part of the collection Animation Before Unification: 16 Shorts from East Germany.

Commentary

Loneliness combines color with an impressive soundscape by Dieter Kempe in this raucous and heartwarming holiday tale. From the first frames, the widower’s loneliness is apparent in his sparsely-drawn apartment, and the sound design perfectly punctuates it: the slow ticking of the clock, the melancholic music. Later, when things become a bit cheerier, a cacophony of sound breaks out and brightens up the scene. Loneliness is a holiday favorite, but its wild glee can be enjoyed year-round.

 

Availability

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