The World of Movies: The Lady and the Reaper
Written by Rachael Crawley
The World of Movies is a series that explores global cinema, drawing on films from many countries, industries and eras. This week, we celebrate short films in Spain.
The Lady and the Reaper.
May contain spoilers.
This week is one of the best on my calendar – Oscar nominations week! While the features get a lot of attention, there are also fifteen shorts at play, and I enjoy tracking down every single one, along with my friends from The K Cut. In 2009, The Lady and the Reaper (Javier Recio Gracía) was one of these nominees. In the spirit of Nominations Week, let’s take a look.
From the offset, the film is eerie, with surprisingly muted animation and a tinny Vera Lynn tune. An old woman sits alone in her remote house, dreaming of a reunion with her late husband. Of course, this is the night when Death comes to visit. The woman, lonely for so long, embraces her fate – until she is rather abruptly brought back. The Reaper won’t rest so easily, though.
What follows is a tug-of-war between modern health care and the personification of Death, sometimes literally grappling with the handsome doctors and nurses. If this sounds off-putting – yes, it is to a degree. However, the action is kept at a brisk, zany pace, which keeps the viewer from getting too hung up on this morbid subject matter. The old woman, meanwhile, seems to have absolutely no say in this madcap adventure.
The Lady and the Reaper.
It is this point that forms the crux of the film – when it’s time for a person to go, who has the final say? It’s a question that is debated hotly in medical ethics to this day, and beneath the hijinks, this element is always lurking. Perhaps the movie could have jumped more deeply into this debate. At the same time, its comedic approach is effective, rescuing the short from the more conventional gloomy outlook expected.
I have always enjoyed films and other pieces that deal with Death as a person, and approach the subject with unconventional ideas. While this short could have used a little more runtime to fully flesh out its perspective, its methods here are quite entertaining. The animation and sound are stellar, even with virtually no dialogue. For those looking for a quirky short to open their movie night, this would be a good place to start.
Rachael Crawley holds a Master's Degree in Film and Photography Preservation and Collections Management from Toronto Metropolitan University, and has worked with film in Canada and in Europe. She adores language and cinema, and how these subjects interact with each other.