Us Again

An old man gave up dancing years ago; his wife still wants to. On a rainy night something happens in the street and both return to their young bodies. They cross the city dancing. When the rain stops, so does the magic. The film is not interested in its fantastical premise. It is interested in ageing being experienced one-sidedly: she still wants it, he has given up, and the issue is not the body but the decision. The ending does not restore youth; it reconciles him to the present. The form is without dialogue: not a word is spoken, and the story is told entirely through music, movement and colour. The dance choreography is the spine of the animation. Zach Parrish directed; it is one of Walt Disney Animation Studios' shorts. It played in cinemas ahead of Raya and the Last Dragon and continues Disney's line of wordless short storytelling. It runs about seven minutes. Who it is for: viewers who like wordless animation and storytelling built on dance. Who it is not for: anyone after depth of story. The short is very short, the idea is single and the emotional effect depends entirely on the music.