Short Film Review: PIECES OF ME. Directed by Tzuyu Tung

A self-reflection of the filmmakers emotional journey from self-doubt to self-acceptance. There are always moments in life where we feel confident we can complete something, but then encounter an obstacle and feel self-doubt. Eventually, we accept the weaknesses in ourselves, overcome the obstacle and gain confidence again.

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Review by Julie C. Sheppard;

While the film Pieces of Me is quite brief at less than two minutes, it covers a wide timeline, acknowledging several transitional periods of an individual’s life. The animation is bold, depicting a series of geometric shapes that suggest humanness, from a tiny round seed to fragmented objects, notably shattered body parts. This imagery is chaperoned by poetic text which describes a seedling finding purpose, to dealing with the inevitable judgments of society, and the self-doubts that this can cause. 

It seems a wise choice to start with black and white shading of items and then to present a colourful kaleidoscope when the central figure is exposed to the outside world. Other striking imagery involves being trapped in a cage, holding back the pressure of walls closing in, and many hands of influence pulling focus. Fortunately, the figure eventually seizes the moment in a brightly illuminated bottle, finds independence, and is now on a self-sufficient journey. 

This brief but strikingly dramatic tale is well told by the talented voice artist who possesses a full-bodied, resonant sound. By the end of the piece, confidence is further exuded by the voice artist’s captivating emphasis and increased pace in speech. Pulsing instrumentals are punctuated by the reverberation of the firm piano notes, which rise to a crescendo – – the central figure is now ready to take on the world, after many struggles and transitions.

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