There is a good reason why this film was screened in festivals across the world. The first one is visual, as the graphics were designed with rare finesse. The background is a sheet of paper handpainted in watercolour, sometimes shaded blue, sometimes orange depending on the time of day (even if time ultimately seems to be a mere trifle). The lines used to draw the monk, the fish, the reservoir and the monastery are very simple, creating a highly refined and undeniably beautiful atmosphere. You can easily - and very happily - see from the delicate graphics that this short film coms from the same director who gave us The Red Turtle. The repetitive gag of the monk trying to catch the fish is a simple device that works very well thanks in no small part to the music. We get a kick out of watching the little monk go hopping mad in the courtyard as the fish keeps tricking him by disappearing under the water only to pop up farther away. The music underlines each of their actions to humorous effect. A flute softly introduces the serenity of the monastery and then, as the action unfolds, more and more instruments join in, from wind to strings, to accelerate the rhythm. It's all about the tempo. The monk buzzes around as if dancing with the music. Because of this aspect the film makes for a lovely introduction to rhythm, both visual and musical. Benshi heartily encourages you to let yourself be carried along by this charming caper. A moment of pure beauty!
