LINK : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vlX3PtYPi30
The animated short film Horacio was directed by Caroline Cherrier. The film is told from the perspective of the protagonist, Guillaume, and shows the events that occurred after he committed a murder. The entire film is dominated by Guillaume’s monologues, highlighting his psychological changes. In an interview, the director mentioned that this animated documentary was adapted from a real “Fait Diver”, and the line “This guy was screaming, screaming, and after a while, he was no longer screaming anymore” in the short film also drew inspiration from her uncle who worked in a prison.
Although this is a dark story, Cherrier balanced the darkness of the narrative with her highly stylized images and soft, rich colors. This is a significant advantage of animated short films compared to traditional filmed short films. Additionally, the short film addresses ethical and social issues. Through the protagonist’s monologues and the mother’s nagging in the latter part of the film, viewers can see the protagonist’s loneliness. Perhaps no one has ever paid attention to Guillaume’s inner world, and his mother merely used the excuse of caring about him to satisfy herself. Indeed, Guillaume is a person who made a mistake and even ended up killing his own mother (this is an open-ended film), but he is also someone who needs genuine attention. No one is an island. Perhaps the director intended to convey through this film the vulnerability and loneliness of people, as well as the longing for companionship and care.
