SIBLINGS - NOT JUST ABOUT SIBLINGS : The analysis

"It's futile to watch an animated shortfilm,

if you don't go through the comments' section." -S.R.Dhivya.

Absolutely, that is where the real insights grow. 

Such a film with around 1K comments is the SIBLINGS - An animated shortfilm by Art College Center of Design and KenetBear

In this 3:43-minute short film, the childhood of children in an abusive environment is vividly seen.

 

To start with, the film shows a happy kid going along with her mother, playing all along the way. Though the father is not seen around, the child is safe and joyful with one of her parents itself. While the girl, who is watching the same through the window, is devastated, in spite of having both of her parents, just because they aren't reaping a healthy relationship. In the present world where parents say they stay in the marriage just for their kids, it conveys a strong message: "BETTER PART WAYS, IF YOU CAN'T MEND WAYS."

 

In the next scenario, the girl with frustration and agony shows her anger towards her brother. They fight over the fish pot, which soon breaks. At the end, we see the siblings trying to get the fish's life back, which results in vain. They also cremated the fish with sorrow, where the title is highlighted. Here, it is interpreted that the fish symbolises their inner child, which dies. The highlighted title at this point indicates that even siblings lose their joy and innocence owing to such an environment, though it is a popular opinion that siblings can take care of each other and stay joyful (which is not possible all the time).

 

Through the course of the film, the girl gets too timid when the pot gets broken and tries to leave along with her brother. It is also implied that she doesn't want her parents to see the crying boy, who may get taunted for the same. Thus, the children also tend to hide their sorrow and fear from such unhealthy parents. The care of the elder one over the younger is noticed in the sequence as well. 

When she enters the room, i.e., into her loneliness, she tends to turn herself away from the cartoon, which shows some positive bond, and the photo, which reminds of her bond with her brother. This is interpreted with the nature of traumatic children who tend to keep themselves away from any intricate relationships (though positive) in the future.

 

However, her love for her brother and her fear over his state give her some illusions and eventually lead her to her brother again. Along with the perplexities faced by a traumatised child, the bond between siblings is appreciated throughout the film, though they have disagreements and quarrels of their own.

 

The aggressiveness of the girl at various instances mirrors the nature of her parents. This is shown well through her expressions and her treatment towards her brother initially, and a teddy bear, which is nothing but the most tender toy. Children inculcate many things from their parents, which may or may not ruin their innocence. 

 

In a nutshell, the film is not only about siblings but also parents and children.

Apart from the plat, the animation of the film is ought to be well appreciated, on account of the vivid expressions and the sequential mastery of clips. The music blends well with the scenario and the emotions of the children, which is quite nice.

--An analysis by S.R.DHIVYA

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