Live Action Shorts Lead With Tough Tales
Despite their brief runtimes, the five Oscar nominees successfully tackle complex issues
The After
Misan Harriman, best known for his work as a still photographer, tackles his first short film, based on a story that he created and John Julius Schwabach turned into screenplay. David Oyelowo stars as an Uber-esque driver in the throes of grief and just trying to survive life itself. The project was accepted into the Hollyshorts Film Festival, where it went on to win the best live action award, thus qualifying it for Academy Award contention. Harriman admits both joy over the nomination and adds that “through this film, we hope to share the message that it’s OK not to be OK.”
Invincible
Writer-director Vincent Renélortie’s short film is based on the true story of his childhood friend Marc-antoine Bernier, who inexplicably transformed from friendly to furious before dying by suicide in 2008. This is the first narrative short by the filmmaker, who is based in Québec. In addition to the Oscar nomination, the French-language project has earned recognition and acclaim from a variety of film festivals, including the best live action short honor at the Chicago Children’s Film Festival, an automatic Oscar-qualifier. René-lortie and executive producer Samuel Caron say that “sharing a true story so close to our hearts was no easy feat, but we believe it ultimately allowed us to address the important subject of mental health in a genuine and relatable way.”
Knight of Fortune
The film by Danish writer-director Lasse Lyskjaer Noer is an exploration of grief set in a morgue — not the typical location for this type of introspection. Eschewing an overwrought hysteria that might come from identifying a spouse in death, and particularly in this locale, two men find peace together during their challenging predicament and discover that even in mourning, there’s humor. Kim Magnusson, a two-time Oscar winner in the same category, is a producer. Noer’s prior directing experience includes commercials and music videos. He tells Variety the nomination is surreal and that “it’s absolutely wonderful to see how the film has managed to leave an impression on audiences worldwide and has now also managed to hit [the] Academy’s hearts.”
Red, White and Blue
Brittany Snow stars in this short from writer-director Nazrin Choudhury, best known for her writing and producing work on “Fear the Walking Dead.” This film directorial debut explores what it’s like for a single mom to find herself pregnant, desperate and in need of an abortion that’s illegal where she lives in Arkansas. The emotional story won the best live action short award at the Edmonton Intl. Film Festival, resulting in Academy Award qualification. “It’s a bittersweet feeling to be celebrating this nomination when we know so many people are dealing with the repercussions of the Supreme Court’s decision to reverse Roe v. Wade, but this recognition from the Academy hopefully makes them as well as us feel seen and heard,” Choudhury says.
The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar
Even with a good script, when Oscar-nominated writer-director Wes Anderson is behind a short film, it’s surely easier to entice well-regarded actors like Ralph Fiennes, Benedict Cumberbatch, Dev Patel and Ben Kingsley to come aboard. This Roald Dahl adaptation delves into the life of Henry Sugar, who strives to see without his eyes. It’s filmed in a stylized way that’s distinctly Anderson’s, with actors, in character, speaking directly to the audience as they break the fourth wall throughout; there is no attempt to hide moving set pieces in the background. This short pairs with three others, also from Anderson and starring many, but not all, of the same actors, in additional Dahl-based mythos.