Despite so much evidence to the contrary, there actually was a human element to Gravity — it only lasted for some 30 seconds and, then, required a separate spin-off film to be fleshed-out. My bitter disappointment with Alfonso Cuarón‘s latest picture notwithstanding, I can’t fault the ambition he and his son, co-writer Jonás, so clearly exhibit with the production of a new short, Aningaaq, which depicts the Earth-bound struggles of an Inuit fisherman who receives contact from… well, someone who’s probably a bit worse off than himself. (You’ve seen the film, surely? The connection should be evident.) Their contact bridges two people stranded in treacherous territory with little (if any) signs of human life, and it turns out the most powerful gravity of all was love.
Excuse my snark: as little as the inter-connectivity between short and feature is itself rather brilliant, but, moreover, Jonás Cuarón equips himself rather well behind the camera — not only as a visual stylist, but one who can break from his father’s well-established formal traits. (Which is not to suggest a long, roving would work in this instance, anyway.) Better than the ultra-expensive, highly complex project? I should say so.
You can see the complete piece below (THR):
What did you make of this short? How does it compliment Gravity, in your view?