Kinematograph (Poland, 2009), directed by Tomek Baginski, is a short full polygonal CG animation featuring a married couple of inventors who try to finalize a kinematograph with color and sound. The animation was brilliant, and like all other polygonal or illustrative CG, this should be watched in as high of a definition as possible. The story has a rather bad aftertaste, but is perfect in pursuing its theme. You should know the Lumiere brothers before watching this work. For Japanese people who are not accustomed to the Western style of character design, make this your opportunity to get a good first impression of it. I don't know who did the subtitles, but the English ones were inaccurate. Regardless, I recommend you watch it raw because the subtitles only cover up the screen.
The following consists of spoilers so read on your own responsibility. (It can be read by highlighting the blank space below.
I might even go remaster the graphic quality on my own if I have the leisure, just so I can watch it on the TV at home in blu-ray quality. There are so many details in the polygonal design that are ruined by the low-quality stream on the main page.
The story is astounding. I had thought it was the usual story about an oblivious inventor putting burden on his surroundings and it becomes too late when he realizes what he had done, until the very end, when you realize this story may have had potential coherence with actual history, when the Lumiere brothers come about with the final devastating blow to the conclusion.
I liked how in the first scene that hints at the wife's sickness, the bgm was leading into the dynamic inventing scene with a drumming sound that resembled the ticking of a clock. I believe it was intentionally done to foreshadow her death later.
The inventing scene itself was amazing. The camera was in constant motion, dollying around whatever it was capturing in the same counterclockwise direction throughout. In sync with the music, it heightened the mood of the scene, and instigated some nostalgia from what I had felt when I had been doing research and inventing similar to this inventor.
I loved the transition from retaking her footage in color to showing it successfully on screen. It was so smooth, I didn't realize the transition had taken place until he called out to his wife to come and see the success.
The visual effects regarding the death sentence were also remarkable. I have never seen that vaporization effect used to fade not only from one scene to another, but to also partially depict the graveyard in a euphemistic fashion in between the two scenes. That was a very unique method only made possible in this context.
Amazing short film indeed.
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