Nominated for a Genie award, Regina Pessóa's Tragic Story with Happy Ending—another wonderful National Film Board of Canada production—is a moving animated fable about a little girl whose heart beats faster than other people's. “It's a bird's heart,” the self-conscious girl explains to the disapproving local villagers, who can't stand the loud beating of the tell-tale heart (which causes glasses and plates to dance, and dogs to bark). “I am in a body not my own; I'm a bird,” the girl clarifies, distraught over being rejected by the townsfolk. Ultimately, the people do grow accustomed to the girl, and she in turn even starts “to like her own body,” after which she sprouts wings and flies away, and the villagers—who didn't know if what happened was “someone dying or someone being born”—all note the girl's absence as they return to their pedestrian daily routines. Featuring voice work by actress Elina Lowensohn, the beautifully-animated black-and-white Tragic Story with Happy Ending looks like a Tim Burton daydream (Pessóa used photocopies with India ink scratched onto glossy paper). This would be considered unsuitable for small children due to a couple of scenes (a dog urinating on a bicycle tire, brief nudity when the girl takes a shower), but for ages 10-up this thought-provoking little film should spark lively discussion about self-esteem and acceptance, while adults will appreciate this for its considerable artistic merits. Highly recommended. Aud: J, H, P. (R. Pitman)
Tragic Story with Happy Ending
(2005) 8 min. DVD: $99 (booklet included). National Film Board of Canada. PPR. Volume 22, Issue 4
Tragic Story with Happy Ending
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