Goodbye Jerome! (2022)
Goodbye Jerome! Review
Goodbye Jerome! is a 2022 French animated short film directed by Chloe Farr, Gabrielle Selnet and Adam Sillard. It’s such an important film.
Having just arrived in paradise, Jerome sets out to find his wife Maryline. In the course of his search, he sinks into a surreal and colorful world in which no one seems to be able to help him. Eventually in what is a truly incredible twist, he finds his wife, but she doesn’t want to be with him anymore. The message is clear here – you should let go of things and accept either a breakup or a loss and you should strive to find new meaning elsewhere. It is a metaphor for starting out your life all over again, especially after a loss of a loved one.
It’s an incredibly moving film that truly feels crucial in the message that it preaches, but it’s also very accomplished in other areas. The animation here is very much French in its surreal nature and the eventual inclusion of watercolor effects. This vision of Heaven with hotdogs that are literally dogs and so many bizarre trees and landscapes was instantly memorable and unique. The score is also beautiful and the entire premise is a highly sophisticated one. The characterization could have been stronger and the ending with the shattered glass was not my ideal way to finish this story, but it still remains one of the most original and creative animated shorts of 2022.
