Short selection of the day: ‘Intermission’ by Réka Bucsi

Hungarian filmmaker and animator Réka Bucsi has posted her latest short film, Break (2022), online.

A departure from her usual lush, almost neon-like imagery and serene dreamscapes, Bucsi shifts gears — as the title suggests — with this minimalist, abstract exploration of line, image, and sound. The soft black-and-white line movements are driven by the rhythm of the music, seemingly going nowhere in particular, yet everywhere at once. Conceptual intentions aside, Break is a delightful piece of chill. You can dive deep into the layers or just sit back and let the hypnotic soundtrack, courtesy of David Kamp, wash over you.

Bucsi explains: “After dealing with Covid-induced depression, I felt the need to step away from character animation and intricate storyboarding. The title reflects that break, but I also saw the film as a potential break during a short film screening — a palette cleanser of sorts.”