From his very first short film, Backbone Tale, we see Jérémy Clapin’s interest in people who have been pushed to the sidelines and shaken by life. Casting heroes who are fragile in everyday life serves the director’s aim of telling us about a theme that he also covers in his second film, Skhizein. That theme is about being different. In Backbone Tale he presents a portrait of a character who is captive to a disability that cuts him off from the outside world and prevents him from meeting his soul mate. The man escapes his harsh reality by dreaming of the mythical Hollywood love story. With this simple but extremely sensitive script the film-maker addresses loneliness while also telling us deftly about the love of cinema. And he has fun turning the famous film kiss on its head in a most mischievous way.
The originality of this short film also lies in the way Jérémy Clapin uses the geometry of the characters’ bodies. His aesthetic choices in this regard perfectly complement the story, visually illustrating the idea of compatibility in love. The film’s final touch is delivered by the instrumental composition of the score, wonderfully accompanied by the characters changing moods, all of which helps viewers get swept up in a lovely little story.
This poetic short film will open the door to hearty discussions with your children.
