2023 FILM MAUDIT 2.0 FILM FESTIVAL REVIEW!
Money is ripped to shreds, other images are superimposed on the faces of former United States’ presidents as they reside on said money. These animated images converge to create something unique, disastrous, painful, and fun. Tulipomania: Gone tells a story that everyone can understand–whether they understand it or not.
Starting in 1634 (and lasting for a few years) tulips became one of the most coveted items in the Netherlands. Individuals were willing to spend far more than they should have to acquire the flower, and this fad was called Tulipomania. While I’m not entirely sure that there’s a direct correlation between that fad and Tulipomania: Gone, it can’t simply be viewed as a coincidence–and the connection between the two (regardless of the intent) is why the film is so interesting. I think it’s important to understand that the images depicted on screen likely won’t resonate with everyone–but that’s not because the film is ineffective, but rather because it’s simply difficult to decipher. For lack of a better word, Tulipomania: Gone is a thinker.
The U.S. Dollar is one of the most easily recognized forms of currency in the world. Most people would know just by looking at it what it is and where it comes from. I believe that Directors Cheryl Gelover and Tom Murray understand this and that they have developed a film that hopes to be far reaching. Including this form of currency spliced together with images of primates does, in fact, reach viewers–and it allows the world to understand the purpose of Tulipomania: Gone. Familiarity is Tulipomania: Gone’s best friend and its greatest chance at success.
I think that the message present throughout Tulipomania: Gone is the most compelling aspect of the entire film (and the film is only a couple of minutes long). The film addresses the fact that money, and the effect that it has on people, is almost laughable. As the currency depicted on screen slowly transforms into ludicrous images or is completely torn apart, viewers begin to understand that Tulipomania: Gone isn’t just about money–but the power that it has in the world. This meaningful narrative approaches viewers subtly, but once viewers get it, they really get it. I’m actually in love with the creative way in which Gelover and Murray bring this story and this message to life. Again, it’s incredibly creative, far more imaginative than I could have ever come up with myself (I don’t know if that’s really saying a lot–but the fact remains)–and the time and effort that must have gone into this animated short is, I’m sure, nothing short of incredibly impressive.
I won’t lie, Tulipomania: Gone was a film that took me a couple of days to mull over–but once I figured out what was going on, it resonated with me. Tulipomania: Gone is a thinker, and it’s likely that people watching for the first time may not initially understand the film’s purpose–but that purpose is there, and I think, beyond any of the other wonderful aspects of the film, the message that this team is attempting to convey is the most interesting, entertaining, and important aspect of the entire film.
Written & Directed by Cheryl Gelover & Tom Murray.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/10
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