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What a precious little film… if only the animation could’ve been better!
Directed and written by Tuomas Tuppurainen, The Brightest Star is a seven-minute short film about a little girl named Sophie, who falls into a cave and encounters a magical spirit. Is it malevolent or benevolent? Sophie finds out soon enough.
The Brightest Star starts off as an innocent tale about a child’s curiosity, taking a dark, fantastical turn when Sophie falls into a pit and encounters a figure that is clearly rooted in Nordic mythology. Those familiar with Nordic myths will quickly grasp the subtle metaphors woven throughout the film, accompanied by beautiful piano flourishes in the background.
While the animation for the mythical spirit is interesting and foreboding, the character design for Sophie sticks out like a sore thumb. Her design is very basic—almost as if she stepped out of a pixelated game from the 1990s—while the background artwork is far more detailed. So, even though Sophie is the central figure in this mystical tale about life, childhood, and loss, her rudimentary design breaks the illusion of fantasy in The Brightest Star.
Regardless, given its themes and excellent musical score, this is a unique little film that ends on an unexpectedly bittersweet note.
Rating: 3 on 5. You can watch the film on YouTube.
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