Directed and written by Daniel Martinez Lara and Rafa Cano Mendez, Alike is a 2015 short animated movie that shows how a father and his child is trapped in the colourless drudgery of life.
Even before a child begins to really comprehend ways of the world, he or she is unknowingly trapped in the rat race of life. From a very early age, the child is bogged down by the pressure of chasing excellence and of living up to the expectations of his or her parents, teachers and the society in future. The bliss of childhood dissipates gradually in the process and before you know it, the child is just another speck in the crowd, living a passive life.
That’s exactly what Alike, a short film directed and written by Daniel Martinez Lara and Rafa Cano Mendez, tries to depict. Revolving around how a child meets with resistance at every attempt to subvert the norm at home and school, this animated movie is an effective commentary on child-rearing. Alike begins by showing a child unable to bear the weight of his heavy school bag, symbolising the burden of academics that focuses more on curriculum than actual learning. The idea is further highlighted when the child is restricted from experimenting and being creative in his learning process. Juxtaposed with this is the father who is seen drowned in his work at office and navigating the drudgery of life, projecting a picture of the child’s future.
The film makes an interesting use of colour to distinguish between the dull monotony of our everyday existence, represented by the father among countless other men, and a lone musician standing on a patch of green land, who lives his dream by playing music. And the movie is about the father and child learning how to retain the spirit and colour of life.
Watch the movie here:
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