Oink

Mascha Halberstad's 2022 Dutch animation is a family film made in stop motion. For her birthday Babs receives a present from the grandfather she has not seen for a long time: a piglet. Her mother does not want the animal in the house and sets a condition, that it can stay if Babs can house-train it. While she works at that it emerges that her grandfather's intentions are not what they appear; he is planning to enter the regional sausage competition. The film keeps the shape of a children's picture while not avoiding black humour and keeping the threat of death real. The puppet animation is handmade and the character design is close to the Dutch comic tradition. The story is fast and the film short. Who it's for: viewers who like stop motion and unconventional children's films. Who it's not for: anyone hoping to watch with very small children; parts of it are alarming.