Invention of Love is a beautiful short animation by Andrey Shushkov. It is described by him on YouTube as “a love story from the world of gears and bolts,” but it could just as easily be described as a moving steampunk fairy tale. In this 10-minute animation, a young inventor goes looking for love and brings home a bride from the countryside. But will she survive in the polluted, mechanical city?
The intricate, silhouette style of this film is utterly enchanting. Shushkov says he was influenced by Lotte Reiniger (The Adventures of Prince Ahmed, Papageno etc.) and Michel Ocelot (Azur and Azmar, Kirikou and the Sorceress, Tales of the Night etc.) and it definitely reminds me of those films. The music, too, greatly enhances the dreamlike, melancholy atmosphere of the story.
The story recalls those beautiful and tragic fairy tales, like Princess Kaguya, The Snow Child and The Little Mermaid, in which someone brings home a wife or child from another world, in which they ultimately cannot stay. I will leave you to decide for yourself what the ending of the story means. Like all fairy tales, Invention of Love will have different things to say to different people.
This film comes from Russia and has won numerous awards. Please do not copy or use it without permission.
ARE YOU A ROMANCE FAN? FOLLOW THE SILVER PETTICOAT REVIEW:
Our romance-themed entertainment site is on a mission to help you find the best period dramas, romance movies, TV shows, and books. Other topics include Jane Austen, Classic Hollywood, TV Couples, Fairy Tales, Romantic Living, Romanticism, and more. We’re damsels not in distress fighting for the all-new optimistic Romantic Revolution. Join us and subscribe. For more information, see our About, Old-Fashioned Romance 101, Modern Romanticism 101, and Romantic Living 101.
0.5