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