Horst in Translation (filmreviews@web.de)
"Dissonance" is a German movie from 2015. It was written and directed by Till Nowak and this 15-minute short film received a great deal of awards attention and maybe the only reason why it was not nominated in the Best Animated Short Film category is because it contains too much live action for that as it is a mix of both. But it did receive an Annie nomination and a great deal of awards consideration in general. But is it appropriate? I am tempted to say no. I was never at a point even close to resembling it one of the best (animated) short films of the year. This is a bit of a pity as some components offered pretty good potential really, such as the father-daughter relationship or the idea and concept as a whole. The transitions between animation and live action were kinda smooth and there is no denying it is also a good film visually. The thing I maybe liked the least was the little troll like creature, even if it made sense in terms of the story and added lots of nuances, I somehow did not like this crucial aspect of the film and as a consequence it was not as meaningful as I hoped it would be. And that made it a negative deal breaker eventually, at least for me. I think there are strong components in here, but in terms of the overall story, this little film came a bit short for me. I give it a thumbs-down.
Red Haircrow
Dissonance shows the curious nature of the modern German mindset. Old thoughts and beliefs, the quickness to label and categorize, dismissive of the possibility of error. An example: the daughter saying her father said he would teach her how to play the piano and the mother say no, he can't, how is that possible: "He wouldn't live on the streets if he were so capable". Then you have those who are quite open, so open, they accept any and all frames of thought and ways, which can be good and bad. That's a societal introspective from a non-German who was born and lived in Germany for many years.However, the personal aspect of the story creatively presents a situation that can happen in families most anyplace they are in the world, whatever background: the parents have separated because of some real or perceived failing on the other's part. One parent feels they must protect the child from the "failed" parent. Sometimes they really do need to, at others, it is as an imagined a danger as the pianist father's animated psychotic fears of the world, which he shares with a stuffed animal. It's all he has physically left of his daughter. This stuffed animal shares his world, interactive and observant but silent, until when sadly put aside by the pianist who sadly accepts he will no longer be allowed in, the toy tells his own story. Dissonance was stylishly, beautifully done. Very simple in a way, but profound, thoughtful, sad and hopeful at the same time. The daughter naturally yearned for her father, but the mother's acceptable fears vs. the father's misunderstood fears, would likely keep them apart too long. The father, whose daughter meant so much to him, seemed ready to succumb to loneliness, his psychotic difference and "The Edge" he had avoided for so long.
