There are certain films which stick with you for years.
I don’t just mean our favorites, but any film whose images, ideas or artistry touches something deep within and remains with us long after we’ve seen it.
For me, a lot of these films have been short films, often of the more experimental persuasion, like Plug (1998), Missing Pages (2006), La Jetee, or X, a marvelous animated film by Raphael Wahl.
I discovered it years ago when it was only available as a flash animation on Wahl’s site: it tells of an astronaut and his encounter with something truly alien, and its equally strange results. Wahl credited Polish Science Fiction writer Stanislaw Lem as his main inspiration, even though it does not draw directly on any of his stories. However, like much of what Lem wrote, it takes on questions of identity and individuality in a playful way.
I love the Sixties-style animation, which reminds me a lot of some of UPA’s Pink Panther shorts, or perhaps of Gene Deitch. There’s a bit of tooth to the deceptively simple lines and the look is very consistent despite his use of some CGI. It is so well integrated that you probably won’t spot it, however.
A lot of loving thought went into the little details — like the tea pot — as well as a quirky touches of character animation that give our astronaut just a bit of personality.
Even if we’re not sure whose personality.
For years, the only place to find X was on Wahl’s site. Flash animation is now obsolete and increasingly difficult to view, but now, courtesy of Raphael Wahl, you can finally watch it on Youtube.
At only six minutes long you have no excuse for not watching this incredible film, which is both funny and just a bit disturbing.
So check out the link below right away.
Before you start questioning who you are…
rivets on the poster 