Death and the Mother (1988) User Reviews

Dreadful and depression...but it's supposed to be that way.

[planktonrules · 7/10 · 31 August 2009]

This is a depressing and dreadful little film but since this is the purpose of the story, I can't fault the film makers. It is an animated film with a very blocky and rather Expressionistic style--a lot like old woodcuts that have been given movement. The film begins with the Angel of Death walking through the woods. As it walks, its facial skeletal features change to human form and back--letting the viewer know that it can change forms to trick the living. In a nearby house is a sick child being cuddled by its mother. Death takes the sick child and the mother sets out in earnest to recover the tot.

The film is rather surreal and difficult to describe beyond this. I didn't particularly enjoy the film but at the same time really respect the quality of the animation and the story--they did a great job.

Folktale come to life

[ldaneliuk · 10/10 · 5 February 2012]

As the description states, this short animated film is about Death claiming a sick child, and the mother's attempt to save her. However, I disagree with the other reviewer that this film is completely surreal or confusing, mostly because I am a Folklorist. The story is based on a Hans Christian Anderson story, and contains all the elements of a good folk narrative. The mother meets various helpers along her journey, and attempts to sacrifice various parts of herself to overcome obstacles along the way. She gives her blood to a thorn bush, which then produces roses to guide her way. She gives her eyes to an uncrossable body of water, and the water scoops her up and carries her across. She gives her hair to a hag to guide her blindly up a mountain to where she finally confronts Death, and scrabbles to reclaim her child. However, taking pity on the Mother, Death gives her back her eyes so that she can see the future of her child: that her daughter will grow up to have a horrible illness and will die in extreme pain and blood. The Mother, realizing that Death was offering her child a kinder fate by taking her before the worst starts, relinquishes the child back to death, and watches as he takes the girl away.

Yes, it's intensely sad, and very dark, but so are most original versionsof folk and fairy tales. They are usually NOT the Disney-fied versions we see in film and children's books. The Little Mermaid is also based on an Anderson short story, and yet the Disney version is all dancing and happiness. Look up the original, and you will be weeping by the end! Depressing, but absolutely beautiful, too!