Letter to a Pig (2023)
Letter to a Pig Review
Letter to a Pig is a 2023 animated short film directed by Tal Kantor. It’s an effective, but problematic movie.
A Holocaust survivor reads a letter he wrote to the pig who saved his life. A young schoolgirl hears his testimony in class and sinks into a twisted dream where she confronts questions of identity and collective drama. My main issue with this movie is its main theme of subconscious pain. The whole idea of collective trauma is a troubling one and I personally reject the notion that I would somehow feel grief over the tragedies that my ancestors endured. It’s the type of movie that has terrible messaging of the need to revisit the past instead of move forward. Also, seeing this film at a time when Israel is committing atrocities in Palestine was truly some terrible timing.
Letter to a Pig is only worth seeing for its mesmerizing, highly artistic animation. The style mixes rotoscoping with black-and-white animation that heavily emphasizes shades and contrasts. There is the added tint of red that complements some moments very well. The movie is surely an audio-visual delight and its surreal approach to storytelling was unique, but it also led to a movie that was difficult to follow and emotionally connect with.
