Save Ralph (2021) | Directed by Spencer Susser

4/5
Spencer Susser’s Save Ralph is a thoroughly compelling stop-motion animated commercial for the Humane Society International that is part of its efforts to stop all animal testing. The mockumentary framework, beautiful animation, and the cutesy style provide a stark counterpoint to the short’s grim subject matter. Since this was crafted as a commercial and a piece of activism, it may not be fair to judge it based on the transparency of the message, but all the same, it’s rather blunt. Regardless, the dark humor is compelling and effective, even if it does only reach those of us who already agree with its message.

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Happiness Is £4 Million (2022) | Directed by Weixi Chen and Kai Wei

3.5/5
Weixi Chen and Kai Wei’s Happiness Is £4 Million is a perfectly fine short documentary that uses the intriguing tactic of paralleling the story of a predatory real estate tycoon with that of the young journalist writing about him at the beginning of her career. The filmmakers ask solid interview questions of the reporter, leading to some insightful soul searching from the young journalist profiled in the documentary. The film needed to explore more of the societal forces that allowed the tycoon’s predatory practices to flourish – but the filmmakers’ approach to him is surface-level. While the structure is a bit jumbled and the insights a bit shallow, the conclusion is incredibly satisfying.

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