Why Watch? Paul (a puppet that resembles a dog….(an armadillo?)…rides the bus home, slugging something strong from a flask and thinking on his troubles. When he gets to his apartment, he discovers there’s been a break in, and the bastards even stole his fish. Who would do such a thing? Paul wants to know, so he sets out into the seedy underbelly of Tel Aviv to find out.

Leaving aside that Paul is the only puppet in a world full of humans, his alienation and “otherness” is just one of the depressing things about him. Even his face is built to look like he’s frowning. Plus, he pines after a lost love (which includes a bizarre memory sequence where he puppet spoons a beautiful naked woman). He’s a troubled hero, which makes his journey both disheartening and wondrous. The filmmaking here is excellent – showcasing capable camera work, intricately playful dialogue and an idea that’s inventive at its core. It’s film noir told with construction paper.

What will it cost you? Only 26 minutes.

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