The Tenor (1998) User Reviews

An amazing short

[dangfitz · 10/10 · 10 December 2013]

I'm pretty sure there's no spoilers in here, but my experience so far is that this short isn't out there to be found anymore, so it probably wouldn't matter.

An incredible take on point of view, how we see ourselves, and how others see us. Reminiscent of Meryl Streep's "He's Me Pal" in Ironweeds. I saw this once, about 15 years ago at a Spike & Mike festival of animation, and I was blown away. It's done entirely in pencil, set at a zoo (the ostrich pen), and the soundtrack contains Luciano Pavarotti. I'd love to have a copy to show my friends; still haven't seen it on you tube. If anyone locates it, please post here - I'd even pay a few bucks to prove to my family that I didn't hallucinate the whole thing.

I'd love a copy too.

[heidi1361 · 10/10 · 6 June 2014]

I also saw this many years ago at a Spike & Mike Festival. l loved it. The poor ostrich has NO visitors at his enclosure at the zoo like the other, apparently more interesting animals. He is hanging his head and is sad. We go into his imagination where he is on stage singing in a packed opera house. On stage he sings beautifully. We are transported back to his enclosure once or twice where he is, in reality, just making horrible squawking sounds and drawing attention from the zoo patrons. He ends his performance in his imagination and the audience begins to throw roses on the stage to him. He is smiling, and loving the moment. Then, suddenly, we are back in the enclosure where in reality he's being thrown... rotten tomatoes. The ostrich is crushed and once again hangs his head.

I laughed and got teary at the end... yes, over an ostrich drawn in pencil. I've told many people about the film over the years. It'd be nice to be able to show others. I've looked for it on-line, but have always come up dry. I'd also pay a few bucks for a copy... or it'd be even better to see it on YouTube!! Come on... let us see it again!!!