The Big Snit (1986)

A couple have a fight over a scrabble game unaware that a full scale nuclear war has started.

Director:

Richard Condie

Writer:

Richard Condie (story)

Stars:

Jay Brazeau, Ida Osler, Randy Woods

Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 4 wins & 1 nomination.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Jay Brazeau	...	(voice)
Ida Osler	...	(voice)
Randy Woods	...	(voice)
Bill Guest	...	(voice)

Storyline

A couple plays Scrabble. He's stuck with seven E's and getting nowhere fast, so she decides to do some housework. While she's out of the room, he glances at her letters; she catches him at it and an argument ensues. Meanwhile, a nuclear war is breaking out, with chaos in the streets as people try to escape the city before bombs fall. The couple's argument escalates; they bring up their pet peeves - "you're always shaking your eyes," "well, you're always sawing the furniture!" Can there be reconciliation before annihilation? And, what about the Scrabble game?

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Plot Keywords:

scrabble | nuclear war | saw | fictional war | existentialism | 

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Genres:

Animation | Comedy | Short

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Details

Country:

Canada

Language:

English

Release Date:

August 1985 (Canada)

Also Known As:

A nagy hűhó

Filming Locations:

Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada

Company Credits

Production Co:

National Film Board of Canada (NFB)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

10 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Connections

Featured in Incredible Manitoba Animation (1989)

User Reviews

Canadians Have The Best Shorts

Richard Condie is a Canadian marvel, and one that should be shared with the world. Be it for gut-busting early work such as "Getting Started" and the Oscar-nominated "Snit" through "The Apprentice" and the digitally made "La Salla", Condie is a treasured local hero. But no singular piece of work puts a stamp on his career quite like "The Big Snit". And did I mention it was nominated for an Academy Award? Darn tootin'.

"The Big Snit", although clearly a dated message-bearer from the 1980s (the short revolves around Cold War-esquire nuclear annihilation, but don't worry – it's hilarious as hell), carries with it a larger meaning, as is most of Condie's work in an understated sort of way. While the planet scurries for cover from Armageddon, a couple bickers over each others' annoying habits (in true Condie fashion, he hacksaws the furniture while she shakes her eyes – literally). And don't forget to watch it again and again, 'cuz there's always something to look at. Condie loads this fella up with countless visual gags and memorable catch-phrases.

I strongly encourage this incredible piece of animation be tracked down. In Canada it's usually spotted in a National Film Board video that includes other stellar shorts (including fellow Winnipegger Cordell Barker's equally funny "The Cat Came Back"). Americans will just have to dig a little deeper, but keep at it – the reward is worth the toil.