I love the animation of this film - it looks like the images originated as water colors; everything is very impressionistic and there's a sense of constant movement. I love the storyline; what a wonderful way to encourage others to let go of horrible experiences that are holding them back. This short animated short film is about surviving and thriving after childhood trauma. Joey experiences "a terrible thing" and "everybody saw it. Everybody knew." One day, after the "terrible thing" happens, Joey wakes up to find a huge bag of coal next to his bed. He has to carry it with him everywhere he goes. Eventually Joey grows up and becomes a storyteller who helps other people tell their stories. When Joey tells his own story of the Terrible Thing, he finds out that others have their own bags of coal too. Joey opens his bag of coal and examines the lumps one by one. One by one they don't seem so heavy. He encourages others to examine their bags of coal as well, As Joey's story unfolds, winter turns to spring, gardens bloom and the bag of coal becomes a balloon that lifts Joey joyously above the town and "everybody saw him. Everybody knew."
The story is well told and unspecific. The "terrible thing" is never defined and could be just about anything, which is what makes it so compelling. What did Joey experience exactly? Abuse, Divorce, Disability, Separation, Illness - all are terrible things that kids experience. Joe's terrible thing could have been something horrific or something simple that, for one reason or another, was horrible for Joey. I love the resolution even more, as Joey learns to dissect his experience, break it up into itty bitty pieces, pieces small enough to deal with, as opposed to the big bag of coal that was overwhelming. I especially love Joey's friend Ricky who stuck with Joey, even when everyone else moved away from him. It is the definition of true friendship. The director, Joseph F. Lovett, brings his own personal experiences to this film and you can feel its impact. Hats off to Oscar Wyndham Lewis for outstanding animation and to Rosie Perez for beautiful and touching narration and Julia Vasiliev for a lovely musical score. This is a perfect film for the KIDS FIRST! Film Festival - gorgeous and an incredible message.
The film's message is about learning to let go of the traumatic experiences we've had in order to move forward, or upward.
I give Something Terrible Happened to Joey 5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 8 to 18, plus adults. By Julie S., KIDS FIRST!
I love the animation of this film - it looks like the images originated as water colors; everything is very impressionistic and there's a sense of constant movement. I love the storyline; what a wonderful way to encourage others to let go of horrible experiences that are holding them back. This short animated short film is about surviving and thriving after childhood trauma. Joey experiences "a terrible thing" and "everybody saw it. Everybody knew." One day, after the "terrible thing" happens, Joey wakes up to find a huge bag of coal next to his bed. He has to carry it with him everywhere he goes. Eventually Joey grows up and becomes a storyteller who helps other people tell their stories. When Joey tells his own story of the Terrible Thing, he finds out that others have their own bags of coal too. Joey opens his bag of coal and examines the lumps one by one. One by one they don't seem so heavy. He encourages others to examine their bags of coal as well, As Joey's story unfolds, winter turns to spring, gardens bloom and the bag of coal becomes a balloon that lifts Joey joyously above the town and "everybody saw him. Everybody knew."
The story is well told and unspecific. The "terrible thing" is never defined and could be just about anything, which is what makes it so compelling. What did Joey experience exactly? Abuse, Divorce, Disability, Separation, Illness - all are terrible things that kids experience. Joe's terrible thing could have been something horrific or something simple that, for one reason or another, was horrible for Joey. I love the resolution even more, as Joey learns to dissect his experience, break it up into itty bitty pieces, pieces small enough to deal with, as opposed to the big bag of coal that was overwhelming. I especially love Joey's friend Ricky who stuck with Joey, even when everyone else moved away from him. It is the definition of true friendship. The director, Joseph F. Lovett, brings his own personal experiences to this film and you can feel its impact. Hats off to Oscar Wyndham Lewis for outstanding animation and to Rosie Perez for beautiful and touching narration and Julia Vasiliev for a lovely musical score. This is a perfect film for the KIDS FIRST! Film Festival - gorgeous and an incredible message.
The film's message is about learning to let go of the traumatic experiences we've had in order to move forward, or upward.
I give Something Terrible Happened to Joey 5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 8 to 18, plus adults. By Julie S., KIDS FIRST!
"Something Terrible Happened to Joey" is a 10 minute animated short film for children ages 6 - 96 about surviving and thriving after childhood trauma. "Joey" experiences "a terrible thing" and "everybody saw it. Everybody knew." One day, after the "terrible thing" happens, Joey wakes up to find a huge bag of coal next to his bed. He has to carry it with him everywhere he goes. Eventually Joey grows up and becomes a storyteller who helps other people tell their stories. When Joey tells his own story of the Terrible Thing, he finds out that others have their own bags of coal too. Joey opens his bag of coal and examines the lumps one by one. One by one they don't seem so heavy. He encourages others to examine their bags of coal as well, As Joey's story unfolds, winter turns to spring, gardens bloom and the bag of coal becomes a balloon that lifts Joey joyously above the town and "everybody saw him. Everybody knew."
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