Balance 1989

I chose to analyse this stop-motion animated short because it is quite unique insofar as it is comprised of only a few elements. The entire film takes place on a square plane which rocks back and forth, depending on its weight distribution. On top are five identical characters. Each of them has long, slender bodies, bald heads and heavy trench coats. The characters’ artistic style is reminiscent of German Expressionism, and I don’t think it is coincidental that the film’s directors, Wolfgang and Christoph Lauenstein, originate from Germany. The slender form of the characters, married with the unstable platform that they stand on, gives off an extreme sense of instability. Their own length acts against them as their centre of gravity is high, and look as though they can easily be toppled.

The animation’s general atmosphere is ominous, stark and suspicious. Although the film is in colour, the colours are extremely limited and desaturated. Only grey, blue and pale pink can be seen. The characters themselves, although the protagonists, do not inspire warmth in the viewer. They themselves look cold and dangerous, and their actions are deceitful and selfish.

Around the 1 minute mark, the characters each produce long collapsible fishing rods from their pockets, and proceed to cast their rods over the edge of the square platform, into the abyss below. These fishing rods are one of only two props in the film, the other being a mysterious heavy cube, which is caught by one of the rods, reeled in and on to the platform. The act of producing these rods and ‘fishing’ over the edge of the abyss creates a feeling of anxiety and dread in the viewer. It is not explained what the characters are looking for, nor what we can expect to catch in the chasm below, but somehow, given the setting and vibe of the film, it doesn’t feel as though it will be good.

Upon bringing the cube to the platform, the characters endeavour to open it. It becomes clear that the cube is what they are there for and that they are each in competition to open it themselves. However, as the characters attempt to open the cube, the weight shifts and the platform moves, causing the cube to slide around and risk falling off the edge and back into the abyss. Each character wants to be the one to open the cube, but also understands that unless they work together to counter each others’ movements, they will all slide over the edge into the abyss.

As each character gets their turn investigating the cube, it is revealed that the cube is some kind of music box, and upon twisting a handle, quietly plays part of a sequence of noises. As the sequence slowly unravels, the characters begin to get more and more desperate to be the ones to turn the handle and hear the noises for themselves. This cube therefore, although basically just a square box reminiscent of a chest, becomes slowly more sinister. As the viewer, we also desire to understand the meaning of the box and the tune it plays, as it is the only thing in this world that appears to offer any sense of meaning or progression. However the box has a destructive effect on the world, as one by one the characters get more aggressive, take bigger risks, and end up falling over the edge, or even being deliberately pushed or struck off.

By the end, one character is left with the cube, but at opposite ends of the platform. If the character moves towards the box, the platform will tilt and they will fall off along with the cube. So they are stuck, essentially forever, never knowing the full story that the cube had to tell.