Still from the animated film 'Slide,' directed by Bill Plympton. ED DISTRIBUTION
Le Monde's opinion – Must See
In Bill Plympton's universe, objects hold magical powers, animals possess camera-like eyes and women are much more than mere femme fatales. Slide, the eighth feature film by the animation director born in 1946, is no exception. But the acclaimed New York filmmaker reinvents himself here with a western drawn in ink pen, sparsely colored and far from the bright, candy-like aesthetic of his cult classics featuring stretchable, gum-like characters – such as the Oscar-nominated Your Face (1987); How to Kiss (1989); 25 Ways to Quit Smoking (1989); Mutant Aliens (2001), which won the top prize at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival; Cheatin' (2013); and many others.
The western opens from the eye of a vulture in mid-flight, scanning the arid land like a drone. A solitary, parched cowboy passes through, when suddenly torrents of water turn into a typhoon, sweeping away both him and his horse. Blue-gray hues flood the screen, chasing away the sepia tones of the opening shots. Welcome to Oregon (where Plympton grew up) with its country music (which the director listened to with his father), its torrential rain, its forests and its trees – perfect for hanging one's enemies.
