A Year in Shorts Day 184: "Oh My Darling"

We’ve covered Dutch director Borge Ring here in our Year in Shorts with his Oscar-winning film, Anna & Bella. That was a short which I didn’t first care for, but found myself quite enjoying the second time around. Today’s film (1978’s Oh My Darling) was one I more or less enjoyed the first time I watched it. Will a second viewing change my opinion on it? Let’s find out!


(via TV Tropes)


Whereas Anna & Bella was a film about sisterhood, Oh My Darling is a film about parenthood, showing the ever changing relationship between a girl and her parents as she grows older and her parents try to prevent her from growing up too quickly. The short is a bit more straightforward than Anna & Bella, but it nevertheless utilizes that strange, whimsical style of animation which made that short so noteworthy. Ring's unique style certainly results in some unique imagery, and his quirky sense of humor runs throughout the film.



That said, I don't think a second viewing has changed my opinion on this short too much. It's pretty good, but it doesn't have the heart that Anna & Bella does, which is a bit of a bummer. This type of short should be a real tear jerker, but it doesn't really go for the old heartstrings like you want it to. And while I certainly still like Ring's style, it's not as polished here as it would be in his subsequent film. Which is to be expected, really; an artist should get better as time goes on. Regardless, Oh My Darling is still a cute and charming short that's well worth a watch, even if it doesn't rank among the greats.


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