Harpya (1979)

An unknowing man rescues a rather aggressive and demanding harpy.

Director:

Raoul Servais

Writer:

Raoul Servais (scenario)

Stars:

Will Spoor, Fran Waller Zeper, Sjoert Schwibethus

1 win.

Cast

Cast overview:
Will Spoor	...	Man
Fran Waller Zeper	...	Harpy
Sjoert Schwibethus	...	Assailant

Storyline

A city dweller, out for an evening stroll, hears a woman's cries for help and rescues her from an assailant who is trying to drown her in a public fountain. However, when our mild-mannered hero pulls her from the water, she proves to be not a woman but a harpy - with a woman's face and breasts and the body of bird of prey. He takes her home and treats her like a human, but she is true to her nature, mercilessly and ravenously taking command of the household, dispatching his pet, and trying to make sure he can't leave. When he does manage, by a clever ruse, to get out of the flat and enjoy a snack, things don't go as he'd hoped.

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Plot Keywords:

rescue | harpy | murder | part animation | record player | 

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Genres:

Animation | Short | Fantasy | Thriller

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Details

Country:

Belgium

Release Date:

May 1979 (France)

Also Known As:

Harpija

Company Credits

Production Co:

Absolon Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

9 min

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Connections

Featured in Animated Century (2003)

User Reviews

short+animation+depth=a 10 out of 10 piece of work

a man saves an "interesting" type of bird's life and takes it to his home. but the bird (or bird like human or whatever) slowly starts to ruin the man's freedom to eat or to go outside. all the food is eaten by the so called "bird" and while the man is trying to escape, bird eats his lower part of the body. with the help of a phonograph, he manages to escape from the house but cannot escape from his destiny.

this 9 minute masterpiece has used the animation techniques very smartly although it has been done in 1979. the idea was not explained with cliché techniques either. from the film I understood that a man who helps another might dig his own grave by doing this. cause the one whom you have helped may not help you back. besides he/she can even harm you. so I think this short film was arguing whether one should be individualistic or not (with a pessimistic view.

a must see for all short film and animation addicts.