Dum Spiro (2011) User Reviews

Vive La France

[Theo Robertson · 8/10 · 28 April 2014]

It was the French who brought the concept of post modernism to cinema in the late 1950s . A handful of critics such as Godard and Truffaut who are had studied the art of cinema ad nueaseam then decided to take the golden era of Hollywood and reference the inspirations . This ended up with Hollywood reclaiming the concept and in effect copying what the French had done leading to another artistic revolution in American cinema that became known as " The New Hollywood " . Even today we see this constant self reference in directors such as Quentin Tarantino that is so blatant it can be described as " post post modernism "

Dumb SPIRO is a French animated short keeping up the tradition of self reference . From outset we're shown a logo that is similar to that seen in the famous Loony Tune cartoons and the six minute cartoon continues in the same vein . The plot is simple but seems to cram an awful lot in to the relatively short running time as a Leigoniarre finds himself trying to take a message to a barbarian king ( You can be sure this barbarian leader is Germanic ) and finding an obstacle in the shape of a bear . It contains a few noticeable winks to past and the big set piece is obviously based upon the climax of STAR WARS so this animated comedy film will hold a lot of appeal to every film fan

From Asterix to Looney Tunes to Hollywood blockbuster – and it all works in a consistently funny short (SPOILERS)

[bob the moo · 23 April 2014]

A legionnaire is summoned to Caesar's tent and given a message to deliver to the barbarian camp on the other side of some dense woodland. As the mission is under the white flag of a courier, the legionnaire assumes that this will be a piece of cake and indeed so it is, until he reaches the forest and finds that it is home to a group of bears, the matriarch of which does not like to have her home disturbed or messed up.

This short film is a student project from France and as it starts you feel like you know where you are since this is Asterix country and visually things reminded me of those books. Once we get to the forest though, it becomes more in common with Looney Tunes as the main character tries and tries again to get across the woods, only to be stopped in some way by the bear. If you like these cartoons then there is much to enjoy here as generally you have that quick-fire physical comedy of those great cartoons. At this point I understood the film but then suddenly it changed what it was again and we are in a chase sequence which is pure Hollywood blockbuster, with speeding vehicle (a horse) and a wooden helicopter.

It sounds silly but the delivery of all of it is spot on – even the genre standards of the action movie (the camera angle, the music) is pitched perfectly so the film has you where it needs you – it works so very well that even the rather questionable choice of "squirrels in suicide vests" works. The animation is of a very high standard and is put together very well with music and tone to produce something that looks very professional indeed; in fairness this is often the case with such films from ESMA (I think Electro came from here too), but it is common that the content of the film doesn't live up to the computer animation. Here it is not the case and this short film not only looks great but it has plenty in it that is clever and funny.

The Roman and the bear

[Kirpianuscus · 18 July 2019]

A Roman messenger. A letter. And the territory of a bear. Lot of fun, adventures and humor in old fashion style. A nice animation , reminding, for the frame, Obelix and Asterix serie, proposing a story not complicated but seductive and a bear so sensitive and angry than you adore it.