2023 Oscar Nominations for Best Live Action Short Film

My favorite: The Red Suitcase

Oscar prediction: Le Pupille

The Red Suitcase (2022) Cyrus Neshvad - 7+/10

Harrowing and deeply felt, with a strong dramatic hook and finely executed suspense. It’s tight and well executed.

Ivalu (2023) Anders Walter and Rebecca Pruzan - 6+/10

Starkly highlighted against the cold terrain of (). The search for a lost sister while dwelling on the sad situation that drove her away takes on a near mystical quality. Soulful and sorrowful.

Le Pupille (2022) Alice Rohrwacher and Alfonso Cuarón - 6/10

Disney throws its weight behind this Christmas tale at a female Catholic orphanage during a world war via the sensibilities of a Wes Anderson. While cute and fun, it is full of disparate styles & storytelling structure. It’s a bit of a jumble that lacked the substance - a bit of a non sequitur idea of a feature.

An Irish Goodbye (2022) Tom Berkeley and Ross White - 6-/10

Sweet and thoughtful, with playfulness and humor pushing at the gates of the loss and uncertainty it is about. Amiable with a sly darkness in its playfulness, but it’s final product needed a little more oomph to get there for me.

Nattrikken/Night Ride (2020) Eirik Tveiten and Gaute Lid Larssen - 5+/10

A push/pull of lighthearted whimsical slapstick and wrenching socially minded stress. Enjoyable but a bit light and under-materialized.