And We Were Young

The feature debut of American experimenter Andy Smetanka is an utter revelation in the world of contemporary animation. Not only was it shot by a classical Super 8 camera from the Soviet era, but it also connects the "extinct" technique of silhouette stop-motion with the principles of modern animated documentaries. Smetanka has been using silhouette animation since 2004. And We Were Young is the oral history of American soldiers, 'Doughboys,' in the last months of the First World War. The director cut thousands of paper figures and coloured backgrounds and filmed them one frame at a time, over the course of three years, to produce a brutal, hauntingly beautiful, and thoroughly original vision of America's war, narrated entirely in the words of the ones who were there. The film is characteristic for its original retro style, well-crafted animation and the touching fates of its protagonists. Black silhouettes illustrate the story in an unexpectedly authentic way and add a touch of tragedy without needless emotions and pathos. (Anifilm)