Big Trees

Jusqu'où iriez-vous pour avoir une vue sur la mer? Inspiré d'une histoire vraie, ce court métrage d'animation est une comédie musicale satirique sur la nature humaine et sur le rapport des humains à la nature. Clin d'œil au film d'Alain Resnais, On connaît la chanson, et à son obsession pour l'immobilier hors de prix, Grands arbres s'inscrit dans la tradition toute canadienne de confier le rôle principal au paysage. Dans cet extravagant mélange de genres musicaux, de références littéraires, d'animation image par image, de projection d'images et de scènes réelles modifiées, la cinéaste Ann Marie Fleming fait ressortir les tensions entre vie urbaine et environnement naturel.

Set to a rollicking doo-wop song by Canadian songwriter Zander Ary, the animated short Soup of the Day tells the amusing story of the dilemma a husband and wife face every time they go out to eat. Will their culinary differences douse the flames of romance, or will love prevail? Director Lynn Smith brings her gouache paintings to life, animating "directly under the camera", and serving up a tour de force of storytelling in song-a tasty comic narrative that bops along with an array of tantalizing dishes. Vocalists Susie Arioli and Alexander (Zander) Ary each bring a unique interpretation to this funny, loving song, and add a dash of tenderness to the colourful animated couple.

Impromptu takes a look at the redemptive power of food, wine, music and love through the eyes of a modern man. Chuck is in his element, cooking and listening to Chopin with his baby daughter, imagining what he will say to his wife Sylvie once he can get her to slow down long enough to have a real conversation. All goes awry when Sylvie spontaneously invites a group of colleagues over to celebrate a work victory. The festivities begin to spiral out of control, and Chuck must find his way through a planned diner à deux that has turned into pandemonium. Filmmaker Bruce Alcock continues in the fine tradition of beloved food films such as Babette's Feast, Big Night and Like Water for Chocolate, using the preparation of a meal as a vehicle for exploring the grand themes of love and life. The loosely flowing movements of his simple and colourful line drawings suggest Alexander Calder wire sculptures come to life. Like the piano impromptu from which the film takes its name, the animation embodies the fleeting occurrence of those inner eureka moments that carry us forward-and bring order to the chaos of life's rich pageant.