FARCE
DIRECTED BY ROBIN JENSEN
NORWAY // 2019
11 MINS
A Sami man ends up in greedy and decadent claws as he tries to save both his reindeer herd and the woman he desires. An awful fable about fatal passion.
Animated Encounters Jury comments:
The jury were given the arduous task of selecting the Animated Encounters Grand Prix award. We started off with a shortlist of around 20 films and then spent two days going back and watching those films again and discussing more.
One film kept coming up again and again. We felt that film was bold and brave, beautifully crafted, thoroughly entertaining, a bit punk and didn't hold back. And so, we've decided to give the Animated Encounters Grand Prix prize to Farce by Robin Jensen
Reflective Encounters
“This animated curiosity beckons the viewer with cutout eyes blankly looking down the camera lens. A farm, animals, a gentle, meek man who watches over his herd of reindeer - so far so family-friendly. Soon though, director Robin Jensen undercuts cuteness with gore. In search of the unrequited love he sees whisked off, our hero embarks on an urban city odyssey that reaches back to the silent cinema of F.W. Murnau and Sunrise.
With equal parts sweetness and horror, Jensen uses blocky colour and crudely representative figures to lull the viewer into this dream. As the man comes across a restaurant with a darker side than meets the eye, Jensen satirises the meat industry, environmental anxiety, and upper-class etiquette. The orgiastic vision this descends into, equal parts Society and Caligula, is an indulgence of animated weirdness. As tongues flap like snakes and phallic imagery highlights the horrors of eating flesh, Jensen begins to incorporate still photography alongside his cutout figures to alienate the viewer even further. It’s entirely satisfying: Farce’s lightning-paced action hits you like a good burger.”
— Ben Flanagan
Director’s Statement
I wanted to create a dark and filthy film that portrays poverty and prosperity in a grotesque but entertaining way. A kick in the gut against the rich and wealthy who get away with almost anything.
The film unmasks double standards, selfishness and vanity. The short film format is excellent for mocking the status quo. It leaves little room for complicated explanations and long lines.
But the short film’s strength is that it can be a quick slap in the face. A surprising wake-up call that can change our perspective and perhaps make us see our values in a different light.
Filmmaker Bio
Robin Jensen is an award winning director from Norway. He has written and directed a dozen short films and documentaries that have screened at festivals worldwide.
His last film, The Shelter, was awarded “Best European Documentary for Children 2018” by (ECFA) European Children’s Film Association.