Shortlisted: In the Shadow of the Cypress (short)

In Iran, there are many potential causes of PTSD. For this crusty old sea captain, it was trauma related to the Iran-Iraq War, but for others, it could just as easily be unjust imprisonment, torture, or even facial disfigurement to punish “immodesty.” Unfortunately, the old man often lashes out at his daughter, continuing the cycle of misery, but extraordinary circumstances help them think beyond their troubled relationship in Hossein Molayemi & Shirin Sobani’s wordless animated short, In the Shadow of the Cypress, which has been shortlisted by the Academy.

When the old man is not distant, he is abusive, but during those times, he is not mentally with his daughter. His mind travels back to when his ship was strafed during the war. Unfortunately, he has a constant reminder, because the slowly sinking vessel still lists in sight of their beachfront shack.

Finally, his daughter resolves to leave, but upon departing she is stunned by the sight of an enormous beached whale. Setting aside their dysfunction, they try to push and pull him back to sea, but to no avail. While she tries to comfort the great beast, he hatches a desperate but possibly cathartic rescue plan.

Married filmmakers Molayemi & Sobani, working closely with animator Azad Maroufi, refined a Spartan, but evocative visual style that appropriately hints at classical Persian influences. It is easy to see how the sea overwhelms and taunts the two characters. Indeed, the deceptively minimalist imagery hold a great deal archetypal power.

This animated short also resonates on an emotional level, in ways that transcend cultural differences, even though it never wears its heart on its sleeve. Molayemi and Sobani never resort to cheap heartstring tugging. Of course, that is another reason why this is such a lovely film. Very highly recommended, In the Shadow of the Cypress deserves to be a frontrunner among the Oscar shortlists animated shorts (along with Magic Candies and Bottle George).