Synopsis
A ghost loses their memory after being struck by lightning. They meet Arthur, who tries to help them.
Heartwarming, Melancholic, and Beautiful
Written and directed by Grégoire de Bernouis, Jawed Boudaoud, Simon Cadilhac, and Hélène Ledevin, Mon Ami Qui Brille Dans La Nuit (translation: My Friend Who Shines in the Night) is a heartwarming and melancholic animated short. One night, Arthur (Edouard Michelon) finds a ghost (Maiko Vuillod) that’s been struck by lightning near his house. The two quickly develop a friendship as Arthur tries to help the ghost remember their past and move on to their afterlife. It’s a simple story – in the best way possible. The short makes excellent use of its brief runtime, focusing on how Arther and the ghost’s budding friendship conflicts with the ghost’s desire to experience death the way other ghosts do. Scattered amidst all of the fun visual gags (like the ghost in hospitals, therapy rooms, and other distinctly human locales) is this sense of melancholy. After all, ghosts don’t linger forever.
While that sense of melancholy is present throughout the short, it never becomes overbearing. Instead, Mon Ami… perfectly balances its tones. The animation is as simplistic as the story is. But it’s still gorgeous to behold. And that simplicity adds to the short’s charm. In fact, it’s where most of the humor comes from. The ghost looks like any old floating-sheet-style ghost. So, most of their personality comes through Vuillod’s performance. Vuillod brings a sense of childlike innocence to the ghost. They’re learning the ropes of being a ghost in much the same way a child learns how to be human. And it’s sweet to witness. And honestly, I think that’s the best way to describe Mon Ami… It’s a sweet, heartwarming, melancholic animated short. You’ll laugh, you’ll get emotional, and you’ll walk away with a big smile on your face.
Rating: 4.5/5
Mon Ami Qui Brille Dans La Nuit is available as part of “Short Films Competition 2” at AFI Fest 2021.
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Part-time writer, part-time theatre nerd, full-time dork.
