Harvie Krumpet (2003)

Lack of good storyline.

In other words,this film is a surreal ride.

There are moments in this movie where the great movie it could've been peek out... They're fleeting, here, but they're worth savoring, and they happen often enough to make it worth your while.

It is encouraging that the film ends so strongly.Otherwise, it wouldn't have been a particularly memorable film

I first heard of this short when I purchased a DVD to raise money for a 2004 tsunami appeal, which included a short clip from it (from Harvie's lightning strike to his new-found freedom as a nudist and an animal rights activist). When I finished watching Jambareeqi's review for 'Mary and Max,' also directed by Adam Elliot, he recommended 'Mary and Max' to those who enjoyed 'Harvie Krumpet.' Today I found out that I could view 'Harvie Krumpet' on YouTube and, despite its adult content in parts, I found it touching and enjoyable.The animation style is different from other stop-motion styles such as Aardman for example and I could see why the characters in 'Mary and Max' looked pretty similar to the characters here. The colours were mostly on the dull side but certain backgrounds had a little more vibrancy. Even though the dialogue was minimal, it was saved by Geoffrey Rush's engaging narration that was as simple and effective as Barry Humphries's narration for 'Mary and Max.' Although the story has some adult content, it still focused on serious issues such as Tourette's syndrome (although not as prominent as Max's Asperger syndrome in 'Mary and Max'), asthma, bereavement, Alzheimer's disease, humiliation and overdose of drugs. The music may not be quite as memorable as that in 'Mary and Max' but I liked the brief operatic piece that plays when Harvie releases his freedom as well as the song 'God is Better than Football.' The characters had distinct appearances and personalities such as Harvie being naive yet knowledgeable for instance.Overall, 'Harvie Krumpet' is a worthwhile stop-motion short and easily recommended for fans of 'Mary and Max.' 9/10.

There's this new young Australian director I m rapidly developing a liking to.His works brought the very basic question to my mind once again after the works of Wes Anderson and Tati and Kubrick - What makes a great artist?? Perhaps its their unique vision of the world...seeing things in their own unique way, in a way people do not care to see. Doesn't this very thing make an auteur??The way he sees, the way he thinks, the way he turns out the most painful of things into the most joyful ones, the way he has defined LIFE just made me sit n look at the blank screen for minutes after the films were over. I got something new all over again.This is one of the darkest stop motion animations i saw...yet having the most liveliest sense of life...If not anything else, u ll do one thing. U ll think...about the film, yes...but more so about life and how you have lived it this long....about the world and how you have seen it this long. Harvie knew facts, saw facts, thought out facts...and so ll u. But then u ll have to think if u ll laugh or smile or cry or just think.Tell me in what genre would u put it in.

The Arts Channel put this clay-mation gem that won the 2003 Oscar on after their fascinating series on the painter Raphael. Harvie Krumpet is the life story of a Polish immigrant to Australia, and a very sad but horrifically funny tale it is. But that doesn't prohibit anyone from laughing with the really black humour involving personal misfortune, accidents of history and of your own making, grandparental home schooling, depression and its cures, Alzheimer's and its mercies, magnetic skull plates and nudism (don't ask). It was great fun and highly recommended if you can find it in the DVD shop! The 2003 Oscar was absolutely well-deserved.Favourite "Fakt": In nude dancing, after the music stops, not everything does.

This is a simple tale but it feels very manipulative. It lacks pathos for it does not leave a room for imagination or a personal thought or time for reflection.The animation is well done but I feel like it is too presentational. I would have preferred more images from behind, more space in the background and maybe then this would not feel so kitsch to me.But for a Hollywood style film it works OK but it is very derivative of Aardman films and this is bothering to me. Perhaps a longer film will test if this maker can do without the voice-over.I think the voice over is too glib.