Inkwo for When the Starving Return is one hell of a trip. The short film is a stop-motion animated extravaganza with strong visuals and a darn great soundscape that’ll make you think you’re watching a big studio film. While it doesn’t come from a widely known culture, the Indigenous foreground is powerful enough for the story to rely on. Sure, it isn’t too friendly, but sometimes that’s the way some stories are meant to be told, regardless if they seem designed for small children.
In the film, Dove is a young Indigenous warrior who realizes he has a mission. He must use medicine, his community’s inkwo, to stand against crawling creatures that live below ground. A lifetime of lessons won’t be enough to prepare for the final boss, but Dove will use all his might to become more than the construct the world has established. His final stance is too exciting to spoil.
The short film by writer Richard Van Camp and director Amanda Strong is a thought-provoking animated experience that doesn’t waste a second of his footage. This is Dove’s entire character arc, framed under magical realism tropes that work perfectly when mashed with the stop-motion format and centuries of Indigenous subtext. The important thing is that it never feels confused and too niche. Dove’s story is the story of all those who are supposed to stand up to the test and prove themselves right.
It’s uplifting and scary at the same time. Inkwo for When the Starving Return is also an exciting fairy tale that subtly winks at our own reality. Although some themes will be hard to translate instantly, the story is compelling enough to understand this isn’t just a fantasy fable. It’s about how we relate to the demons we fail to recognize, but lurk around us all the same.
Stop-motion animation is not an easy craft. There’s a reason why there aren’t more films in the format, and I personally believe that it’s because it’s too challenging, and let’s face it, there are easier tools to use nowadays. It’s also the reason why whenever we see one that’s well made, it’s impossible to look away. It’s the opposite of innovative but it’s tangible, almost pungent, and a beautiful way to express an idea without any restraints. Well, time and patience, of course, but they are secondary when it comes to genius storytellers.
Film critic. Lover of all things horror. Member of the OFCS. RT Approved Critic.
