ME (Short 2024)

ME (Short 2024). 22m

“Directed by Don Hertzfeldt, u0026quot;MEu0026quot; is a strange, fascinating, and deeply challenging work that defies easy interpretation. As is typical of the filmmaker, the short film features his unmistakable signature: simple stick figures, complex philosophical concepts, and a narrative that spirals through time and space in dizzying ways. But u0026quot;MEu0026quot; goes even further. With no narration, dialogue, or subtitles, the film demands that viewers build their own connections through symbols, visuals, and soundtrack, diving headfirst into a surreal and sensory experience.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eThe story-or what can be pieced together from it-seems to revolve around cycles of creation and destruction, both on a personal and societal level. It begins with a couple having a baby during a time of chaos. The father, obsessed with building a revolutionary machine, grows emotionally distant from his wife and child. His invention changes how people communicate, but he grows old, dies, and his body is discarded in a mass grave. Meanwhile, a second child, symbolized by a floating eye, grows up disconnected and eventually transforms into something colossal and catastrophic-possibly a black hole that consumes everything around it. The fragmented narrative, filled with gaps, feels intentionally designed to both confuse and captivate.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eWhat makes u0026quot;MEu0026quot; even more unique is how Hertzfeldt uses music as the filmu0026#39;s primary language. Brent Lewis sets the initial tone with a frenetic, claustrophobic percussion score that captures the intensity of the storyu0026#39;s beginning. As the narrative transitions into more tragic territory, we hear Mozart and Chopin, evoking melancholy and introspection. In one of the filmu0026#39;s most ethereal moments, a recording of Dame Joan Sutherland singing u0026quot;I Dreamt I Dwelt in Marble Hallsu0026quot; creates an almost transcendent atmosphere, brimming with emotion. Then, near the end, the film shifts into an entirely different space with Jelly Roll Mortonu0026#39;s jazzy improvisation, whose intro feels like a distant echo of a simpler, more innocent past. The music doesnu0026#39;t just accompany the story-it acts as a character in its own right, emotionally guiding the viewer through this existential rollercoaster.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eVisually, Hertzfeldt stays true to his signature aesthetic but adds nuances that expand his repertoire. The stick figures and rudimentary shapes are deliberately simple, but the world they inhabit is filled with unsettling details and symbolism. Thereu0026#39;s something deliberately discomforting about the settings the characters occupy: landscapes that oscillate between the familiar and the alien, the beautiful and the apocalyptic. The transformation of the u0026quot;floating eyeu0026quot; into a massive cosmic threat encapsulates the idea that small acts of carelessness or obsession can spiral into unimaginable consequences. The visual simplicity only serves to highlight the complexity of the story being told.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eThe symbolism in u0026quot;MEu0026quot; is, as always, open to interpretation, but Hertzfeldt gives us enough clues to reflect on contemporary issues. Though he explicitly denies that the film is about our devices, itu0026#39;s hard not to see parallels with how technology shapes our lives and relationships. The fatheru0026#39;s isolation, the emotional disconnection within the family, and, ultimately, the catastrophic collapse triggered by technology can be read as a metaphor for our growing dependence on innovations that simultaneously connect and destroy us.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eHowever, limiting the film to a single interpretation would do a disservice to its depth. u0026quot;MEu0026quot; can also be viewed as a reflection on humanityu0026#39;s existential chaos, a study of impermanence, and the impact of our choices over time. Whether seen as a meditation on collective anxiety or as a pure audiovisual experiment, the work invites-and demands-multiple readings.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eOverall, u0026quot;MEu0026quot; is the kind of film that doesnu0026#39;t make things easy for its audience. It challenges, provokes, and, at times, may even frustrate with its lack of clear answers. But thatu0026#39;s the beauty of Don Hertzfeldtu0026#39;s work: he never hands you ready-made solutions. Instead, he creates a space where you can get lost, question, and maybe even find something of yourself reflected in the stories he tells. If youu0026#39;re willing to accept the invitation to dive into the unknown, u0026quot;MEu0026quot; is an experience that will linger with you long after the credits roll.”