NICOLAS MÉNARD

WEDNESDAY WITH GODDARD

An existential hook, married to exceptional animation and a droll Irish narrator echoing Waiting for Godot, makes this film essential viewing. From phone-book searches to mountaintop romances, this quest for meaning twists and turns with an elegance and simplicity that demands repeat viewing. Nicolas Ménard’s use of bright, blocky characters and forms seems almost childlike, and he admits it was weekly church printouts that inspired the pastel look and feel. However, it’s the assured direction and masterful storytelling that make this a standout piece.