Away

Written, directed, animated, and scored by Gints Zilbalodis
Running time: 1 hour and 15 minutes

by Ryan Silberstein, The Red Herring

Film is a collaborative medium by nature, and animation is, traditionally, even morso. So at minimum, Away would be a curiosity as one man, Gints Zilbalodis, created every element of the film and brought it to life. But beyond that, this feature film provides enjoyment alongside allowing the audience to bask in its enthusiasm. 

Away is the story of a boy stranded on a strange island. When he wakes up, he is confronted by a giant shadow-like creature. In the distance, an archway of stone beckons. More arches stretch out to the horizon across the barren landscape. Along the way, he finds a motorcycle, befriends a small yellow bird, and encounters other life and environments. 

Told without dialogue, this simple story is capably told through image alone. The effect feels like that of watching an extended short film or a beautifully rendered video game. If “Press Start” had flashed on the screen at any time, it wouldn’t have felt out of place. The stripped-down nature of the story evokes video games as well, with a lone protagonist pushing ahead, his path signaled only by unchanging parts of the environment. But it captures the best aspects of those kinds of games: the sense of discovery and the wonder that comes with it. Those familiar with games like The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild or Half-Life will recognize in this silent, mostly expressionless, boy an empty vessel meant to be filled with our own emotions. 

Away is about the journey, about pushing forward even though what is ahead is unknown. It sort of serves as a metaphor for the making of the film itself, as the 25 year old Gints Zilbalodis has been working on this for the last few years. With minimal story and characterization, the focus is on the visuals, entirely. Some of them are stunning, with a mirrored lake, wooden bridges, and misty mountains creating an enticing landscape. With a cartoonish art style, lacking lines around any aspect, it conveys a sense that everything is connected, almost overlapping. 

While it may not be much more than an impressive solo feat, Away is enchanting enough to draw you in for its runtime. I'm looking forward to Zilbalodis working on characterization with his future work.