Online viewing tip.

Andrea Arnold's Wasp, the winner last night of the Oscar in the category "Short Film (Live Action)," can be seen in full at Channel 4's site. Real Video, a little over 24 minutes.

And definitely recommended. Some might object that placing children at risk is the easy route to snatching an audience's immediate emotional engagement, but trust me, you've rarely seen it done quite this way; and what's more, it's not dishonest, either. There seems to be a mild bit of trickery at a crucial moment towards the end, but you'll be hoping it actually is. Otherwise, drawing outstanding performances all around, particularly from the girls, Arnold has created a disturbing and convincing reality that, while rooted specifically in Britain, simmers on quietly in just about every ignored corner of the world.

Via a highly appreciated tip.

Posted by dwhudson at February 28, 2005 11:08 AM