VIFF review: The NFB's "Bad Seeds/Mauvaises Herbes" shows the nasty side of plants and humans
Claude Cloutier's rapid-fire drawings depict never-ending duels in nature
The beginning of Claude Cloutier's animated short, "Bad Seeds/Mauvaises Herbes", is a little deceptive.
Jaunty banjo music suggests that blooming plants in a field are here to benefit the planet.
But soon enough, two of these stalks turn carnivorous, morphing into a multitude of shapes in a seemingly never-ending duel.
They take the form of a bird, frog, alligator, hippo, lion, and even a Tyrannosaurus Rex in a series of rapid-fire drawings.
The violence is truly astonishing, reflecting what takes place not only in the animal kingdom, but also within the human race.
Cloutier is an experienced animator with many credits with the National Film Board.
"Bad Seeds/Mauvaises Herbes" shows the artist at the height of his powers.
It's a dazzling and, at times, dizzying NFB production, well worth the small seven-minute investment of time to watch it.
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