Calling all corporate higher-ups:
Trust falls are no longer the best
way for your employees to practice
team building. Try freefalls from
the top of a mountain, with a child
strapped to each of their chests.
This technique worked for the
characters of writer-director João
Gonzalez’s (“Nestor”) animated
short “Ice Merchants,” so it should
work for you.
The premise of “Ice Merchants”
is inherently ridiculous. A father-
son duo lives on the edge of a
mountaintop in a house suspended
by pulleys and ropes. The son sits
on a swing attached to the house,
and every time he propels himself
outward, the audience gets a sense
of just how high up they are. The
house creaks constantly due to the
harsh winds and the quite literal
suspense kept me on the edge of my
seat, waiting for them to plummet.
Every day, in order to sell a
single box of ice to the people at the
foot of the mountain, they jump
from the edge of their front porch,
trusting a parachute to break their
fall. During the jump, their hats
fall off, and to make up for it, they
buy new, identical ones from a hat
shop at the foot of the mountain.
Each night, they come home and
share a quiet meal together.
Despite the contentment that
the father and son seem to have
with their lives, there’s a subtle,
underlying grief due to the semi-
recent passing of the son’s mother.
The first indication of this isn’t
until a few minutes into the film,
when a kitchen cupboard is opened
and there are three mugs. Her
story is also deeply intertwined
with theirs.
It’s easy to suspend disbelief
when
the
cinematography
is
marvelous. In fact, the seamless
transition
between
different
shots is enough on its own for this
short to win the Oscar. When the
father and son are freefalling, the
camera moves as if the audience
is as well, enlarging body parts at
random, sweeping upward to give
the illusion of flying, suddenly
moving back downward when he
pulls the parachute cord. Similar
shapes blend into one another as a
way to transition between scenes,
the roundness of the bottom of
a thermometer attached to their
front door mirroring the sun.
There is no dialogue, so every
shot
is
intentional,
revealing
one piece of the story at a time.
Gonzalez is tasked with both
keeping the viewer interested in
each individual frame and building
towards a bigger purpose later on.
The animation initially looked
more like a sketch than a well-
imagined series of paintings. The
mountaintops in the first scene
are unevenly filled in and the
wobbly outlines of objects such
as the house make some of the
background seem messier than
computer-animated films. I was
afraid that the scenery would look
too simplistic and empty, thereby
making it harder to take in the
meaningful storyline that was
unfolding.
This was one of the most
gorgeous pieces of art I’ve ever
seen. The limited color palette
consists of warm colors and the
darker shades of the mountain.
The
animation
style
expertly
plays around with shadow in
order to heighten the contrast
between these colors. In one
nighttime scene where the father
sits opposite the dinner table from
his late wife’s mug, his face and
his side of the room is shrouded
in shadows, while the mug and
the rest of the room is illuminated
by the fireplace. When he goes
to sleep, he’s dimly lit, while
moonlight shines on the empty
space next to him in the bed.
After getting used to the scary
backdrop of living on top of a
mountain,
there’s
a
lingering
serenity in the father and son’s day
to day routines. Piano and strings
together make up the soundtrack,
which
Gonzalez
composed
himself, bringing excitement to
the freefall scenes and morose
undertones to the quiet, subdued
moments
of
reflection.
The
sounds of the swing, the ice box
opening, the chipping of ice into
smaller cubes, the wind gushing,
the ringing bell and the crackling
fireplace all stay the same from
day to day. For a few minutes, the
world stands still, making way for
the mundanity of a father and son’s
humble existence.
Then, that mundanity breaks
and no “I never cry at movies”
audience member (I’m talking
about myself) is safe from the
incessant sobbing that follows.
The threat of rising temperatures
and increasing emotional tension
make it hard for the father-son duo
to keep on going. In the end, they
can only rely on one another.
4 — Wednesday, March 8, 2023
Arts
The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
Over the summer, my friend and
I started a bookclub to tackle our
individual to-be-read piles. One of
their picks was “The Priory of the
Orange Tree,” an 800-page fantasy
that had been trending on BookTok
for several months. As a rare reader
of fantasy and 800-page books
alike, I was apprehensive about
their choice; however, after making
them read Joan Didion’s “Slouching
Towards Bethlehem” (which left
both of us disappointed and bored),
I owed them. We began “Priory
of the Orange Tree” in May, and
finished it two, long months later.
“The Priory of the Orange Tree”
is not a book that can be easily
summarized, given that it could be
smoothly separated into a trilogy.
An evil fire-breathing “wyrm”
(different from the peaceful water
dragons) known as “The Nameless
One” is gaining strength, leaving
everyone increasingly terrified of its
return after having been defeated
1,000 years ago. Unfortunately,
the world is divided based on their
religious and wyrm/dragon beliefs,
making it impossible for the regions
to unite: in the East, people have
close relationships with dragons,
viewing them as Gods; in the West,
also known as The Queendom of
Inys, wyrms and dragons alike are
feared and Queen Sabran IX rules as
the direct descendant of the original
slayer of The Nameless One, Sir
Galian; and in the South resides the
“secret mage society of The Priory,”
which believes the original slayer
was not Sir Galian, but rather his
wife, Princess Cleolind, and if I am
remembering correctly, understand
the difference between evil fire
wyrms and good water dragons.
In addition to those conflicting
politics, there’s a draconic plague,
forbidden
romances,
a
well-
executed lesbian relationship and
magical fruit. To say there’s a lot
going on is an understatement.
Shannon is nothing short of
ambitious, which she proves again
with her new release “A Day of
Fallen Night,” the prequel to “The
Priory of the Orange Tree.” The
world is again divided into the
aforementioned regions (as well
as the North), which Shannon
alternates between in each chapter.
Though “A Day of Fallen Night” is
another long-strung tale of dragons
and magic, Shannon roots the story
in three specific characters, all of
whom are young women coming of
age in their respective part of the
world: Dumai in the East, Glorian
in the West and Siyu in the South.
Though their paths are diverse —
Dumai spends her days serving the
great Kwiriki, Glorian prepares
to take over the throne and Siyu
awaits her ascension into the Priory
— the characters mirror each other
in their ambitious and rebellious
desires as they navigate their duties
to their families, their regions and
their realm.
At this point in time, dragons
have entered what is referred to as
“the long slumber.” Though they
can be awakened by the ringing of
sacred bells, it is understood that
the dragons should not be disturbed
unless absolutely necessary. While
the dragons sleep, wyrms begin to
rise. In each region of the world,
boulder-like rocks are found that
generate a powerful and unfamiliar
heat. Each region suffers the
consequences of their arrival and
prepares to defend their respective
part of the world the best way
they know how: in the West, with
alliances; in the South, with magic;
in the East, with dragons.
Though Shannon incorporates
similar
themes
and
storylines
in “A Day of Fallen Night,” what
sets it apart from “The Priory of
the Orange Tree” is its dynamic
characters
and
their
carefully
crafted relationships. In each region,
the three aforementioned women
are heavily influenced by their
relationships with their mother:
Dumai’s mother, Unora, fled while
pregnant with her to the East, where
she raised Dumai in seclusion;
their strong relationship is later
upended by the arrival of Dumai’s
father. Glorian’s relationship with
her mother, Queen Sabran VI, is
quite strenuous. Queen Sabran is
incredibly chaste concerning her
love for her daughter; when Glorian
breaks her arm, for example, she
refrains from visiting her. Siyu and
her mother, Esbra, have perhaps
the most complicated relationship
of all — in the Priory, the Mother
(Cleolind) is loved and worshipped
above all else, and this sacred
devotion displaces Esbra’s love for
Siyu.
Samantha Shannon returns with another
fantasy monolith, A Day of Fallen Night’
Design by Phoebe Unwin
LILLIAN PEARCE
Daily Arts Writer
puzzle by sudokusnydictation.com
By Beth Rubin & Will Nediger
©2023 Tribune Content Agency, LLC
03/08/23
Los Angeles Times Daily Crossword Puzzle
Edited by Patti Varol and Joyce Nichols Lewis
03/08/23
ANSWER TO PREVIOUS PUZZLE:
Release Date: Wednesday, March 8, 2023
ACROSS
1 Roughly
5 Skin blemish
9 Poetic contraction
12 Inheritance
recipients
14 Slurpee-like
drinks
16 Astronaut
Jemison
17 Parade with strict
precision
19 Body shop fig.
20 __ Lanka
21 Conclusion
22 One providing
misguided
support
24 Milan opera
house
26 Pull up stakes for
one’s co.
27 Hint
30 Starbucks size
31 Gains a lap
32 “Stay right there!”
34 Fuel economy
meas.
35 Tropical storm
36 More inclusive
40 See red?
41 Sorting factor in
some directories
42 Blessing
44 British noble
45 “Saving Private
Ryan” event
46 Medical pros
47 Opens, as a gift
49 Sound bite, e.g.
51 Sked info
52 April 15 payment
55 Original Beatle
Sutcliffe
56 Metaphor for
something that
can’t be changed,
and what’s found
five times in this
puzzle?
59 Keystone figure
60 Lofty nest
61 Shrub that may
be toxic
62 Informer, maybe
63 Saxophone insert
64 Repair
DOWN
1 Electrical units
2 Caboose
3 Virtual assistant
on Apple devices
4 Goblinlike fantasy
creature
5 South Dakota
national park
known for its air
currents
6 Rm. coolers
7 Share again, as
a joke
8 “Ooo La La La”
singer __ Marie
9 Brunch dish
10 Stands in a studio
11 Nostalgia-
inducing
13 “__ Butter Baby”:
Ari Lennox/J.
Cole song
15 Hydrotherapy spot
18 Not negotiable
23 Bandits
24 Live it up
25 Pub choice
27 Public health
agcy.
28 Poet Mina or
actress Myrna
29 Chapel Hill sch.
31 Ad
33 Like freshly cut
lawns
34 Fred Flintstone’s
boss
36 Raced (along)
37 Family man
38 Horvath of “The
Rings of Power”
39 Marina del __,
California
41 Bar code?
42 Cereal eater’s
proof of purchase
43 Keep busy
44 Unabridged
46 Secretaries, e.g.
47 __ Peninsula:
Michigan home
of Yoopers
48 Cushions
50 Pretoria’s land:
Abbr.
52 Umpire’s cry
53 Mathematician
Turing
54 Randall
Munroe’s
webcomic of
“romance,
sarcasm, math,
and language”
57 Two truths and
a __: icebreaker
game
58 Autumn flower,
for short
SUDOKU
WHISPER
“If you are
struggling, you
are not alone.”
“The break was
so short.”
WHISPER
By Enrique Henestroza Anguiano
©2023 Tribune Content Agency, LLC
02/15/23
Los Angeles Times Daily Crossword Puzzle
Edited by Patti Varol and Joyce Nichols Lewis
02/15/23
ANSWER TO PREVIOUS PUZZLE:
Release Date: Wednesday, February 15, 2023
ACROSS
1 Tool that can
be a musical
instrument
4 Not berthed
8 Designated
14 Confidentiality
contract: Abbr.
15 Spider-Man
co-creator Lee
16 Prophecy source
17 Get-together with
a sketchy vibe?
19 Beam benders
20 Cookie-based
dessert
21 Spanish “those”
22 Salon job
23 Marketer’s blitz
campaign?
28 Affirmative
replies
30 General on a
menu
31 Sign of healing
32 __ Cruces, New
Mexico
34 “Yeah, I guess”
36 Pickleball shot
37 Intercom call on
Take Your Child
to Work Day?
40 Mud bath spot
42 Bash who
co-hosts CNN’s
“State of the
Union”
43 Mo
44 The Buckeye
State
46 WNBA official
47 A few bucks, say
51 Shake Weight
and The Flex
Belt, per their
infomercials?
55 Heaps
56 Limo destination
57 Jack up
59 Nut used to
make vegan
cheese
62 Cold Hawaiian
treat ... or a
directive followed
four times in this
puzzle?
63 Understood by
few
64 Despise
65 Org. with seven
teams in Canada
66 “This Is Spinal
Tap” director
67 Lyft competitor
68 Game Boy
batteries
DOWN
1 Beagle who pilots
an imaginary
Sopwith Camel
2 Like premium
streaming
services
3 Communion
rounds
4 Urgent letters
5 Narrow piece
6 Foodie website
covering 25
metro areas
7 “__ takers?”
8 Arcade
achievements
9 Bad move
10 Ups the ante
11 Telethon VIPs
12 Blight-stricken tree
13 __ Moines
18 Grapefruit kin
21 Succeed
24 “You can come
out now”
25 Rights advocacy
gp.
26 __ Tomé and
Príncipe
27 Recede
29 Hourglass stuff
33 Draw for some
pictures
35 Contact lens
holders
37 Uttered
38 Hr. for an after-
lunch nap,
maybe
39 Interval of eight
notes
40 Cry noisily
41 Soup with rice
noodles
45 Anne of Green
Gables, for one
48 “Riverdale”
actress
Huffman
49 “Caught
red-handed!”
50 Braces (oneself)
52 Nobel-winning
chemist Joliot-
Curie
53 Process that may
involve PT or OT
54 Roofing option
58 Of all time
59 Subway unit
60 “What __ those?”
61 Bio or chem
62 Moo __ pork
Read more at MichiganDaily.com
Indigo De Souza’s
‘Younger & Dumber’
is devastating though
achingly hopeful
Different
from
Indigo
De
Souza’s usual soundscape, her
new single “Younger & Dumber” is
gentle and somber in its approach,
leaning heavily on atmospheric
sounds rather than clamorous
drums and gritty guitars. The
track opens with reserved piano
and guitar moving in sync and
then diverging — one line moving
upwards, another dipping down
before meeting again in the
middle. Indigo’s voice parts the
dancing melodies. It’s heavy and
weary, almost on the verge of
breaking, and at moments, you
half expect to hear her dissolve
into desolation. The stripped-
back instrumentation heightens
the bone-sore, aching delivery of
disarming lyricism, offering us a
new vantage point from which to
observe: “I get so tired of filling
the space all around mе / And the
love I feel is so powerful it can
take you anywhere.”
“Younger & Dumber” teems
with the melancholy of nostalgia;
it’s about sorrow for a past self,
for a childhood, or for a memory.
Crushing,
cascading
drums
rumble in the lower regions of
the envelope, building, building,
building
towards
a
soaring
moment in the chorus where
the track balloons up and swells
with a quivering hope. It’s an
earth-shattering apex that is
both devastating and exultant.
Maybe once we were naive and
stupid; maybe once we were taken
advantage of by someone we
loved; but now, in this moment, we
are smarter, bigger and stronger
than anyone who has ever hurt
us. “Younger & Dumber” holds
us in a bone-crushing embrace
throughout its nearly five-minute
play time, leaving us wiser and
more sure-footed than ever.
This is a new sonic landscape
for Indigo De Souza, whose
discography leans into chattering
drums and dense bass lines
running
steadily
underneath
rough electric guitar. I love that
side of Indigo, where she explores
the
fast-paced
and
sonically
dense, but in the simple act of
stripping back, the track opens
itself up to listeners, tearing
back the soft and squishy parts,
exposing a beating heart and the
crimson life rushing through
it. Listeners are allowed to bear
witness to an unfiltered, bare-
faced reckoning with a past self,
an almost love letter, or even a
memory. A track as human as
this leaves me excited for more,
hanging onto her every move
with bated breath and eager
anticipation.
CLAIRE SUDOL
Music Beat Editor
‘Ice Merchants’ traded
my ice-cold heart
for hats
KRISTEN SU
Daily Arts Writer
Read more at MichiganDaily.com