BIMIFF #4 - ENG

B I M I F F
R E V I E W
BEING A DOG A FILM BY FELIX SWAHN
R E V I E W B Y M A R C E L O C E S A R
56
"Gravidam" film scene
WHO HASN'T EVER WANTED TO BE A DOG?
Every animation already has my fondness. It is an art that deserves
all our respect and affection due to the enormous work that it
demands from its creator. At the same time, it is a language that
flows and that everything is allowed, everything is possible and
this fact favors the animator to create stories that in "live-action"
would be much more difficult (not impossible) to accomplish and
even to accept.
In this 2D digital short film by animator, director, writer, and
producer Felix Swahn, this premise that anything is possible is
used with sensitivity and mastery.
In "Being a Dog" he tells us the story of Tim who craves love. He is a
lonely individual and in difference, from other human beings, he
transforms himself into a French bulldog. His encounter with his
friend Ginger makes him feel human and in love, only he is not
reciprocated by his friend. She makes him understand that they
are just friends. After this meeting, Tim becomes a dog again, and
in this back and forth between dog and human, Tim manages to be
happy.
Swahn's fable is very interesting; it goes against many of our
feelings and questions. How many times have we wished we were a
dog because we simply cannot understand and process the
feelings that go through our human soul? How many times have
we seen dogs being well taken care of and, in this context, wishing
for us, all the care and love directed to that animal? How many
people are unable to love a child, but are the kindest people in the
world with their pets? How many canine actions are superior to
the actions of humans? There are many questions. Who has never?
The animation has a noir aesthetic, a bit dark, that reminds us of
Frank Miller's comics, Tim Burton's animations, and the great
master Mr. Miyasaki. The references are important because the
theme is adult and deep. These are feelings that work on
belonging, loneliness, the search for unrequited love, and even the
anger and rage when one is attacked... sometimes human,
sometimes animal.
The dubbing, sound, and music work of the animation is outstanding and
perfect.
"Being a Dog" has been through more than 50 international festivals and
received recognition of more than 9 awards in its journey.
Another animation by Felix is "The Odd Funeral" from 2016 when he was
graduating from animation school at Animations Akademien. Since then
he was already working with themes sensitive to the human soul. The
short film deals with the fulfillment of a deathbed wish of grandmother
Grete-Pinde, who asks her family to be buried in the Tatra Mountains, a
natural border between Slovakia and Poland. The fulfillment of this wish
becomes a journey of searching and finding one's own family. Here the
characters also change from human figures to shadows and vice versa.
Perhaps there already exists the origin of the man/dog.
About the director: Felix Swahn is a 29-year-old Swedish filmmaker.
From 2014 to 2016 he studied experimental film and animation at
Animations Akademien, soon after (for the next 2 years) he studied
comics at Skarpnäck Folkhögskola. He has worked in magazines such as
8-Sidor, Intra, Ögonblick, and Special Pedagogik, as well as illustrating
several poetry books, novels, and children's books.
In the years 2018 to 2020, he worked as an animator for two Architecture
firms making animated films for project presentations. Furthering his
studies, he specialized in advanced 2D animation at CG-Spectrum. Swahn
was diagnosed with autism, as he started speaking only at the age of five,
but was drawing since the age of two. He is a young talent that has a lot to
offer us yet.
Marcelo Cesar
The director Felix Swahn