Baggage: Review. By Robert Ewing.

We all carry baggage, and while it is not always literal, the mental strain of our thoughts can be just as intense as hauling a heavy suitcase through an airport, only to be told it is too heavy and you need to remove some of the items into your hand luggage. It is all too relatable, which is why the animated short Baggage works so well, created by Aardman Academy alumna Lucy Davidson. Baggage is a delightful short film that holds a truly poignant message at its core.

We open on three girlfriends as they check in their baggage at the airport, we see two of the girlfriends are in sheer glee, excited to get away. Hopping onto the scale and being under the limit, they swoop away onto the conveyor belt to go through security. However, the final girlfriend might be carrying a bit more baggage than her friends, which she will have to tackle head-on as she goes through security.

Baggage possesses a unique visual aesthetic; the crisp black and white colour scheme is simply stunning. Every frame bursts with life yet never feels muted, thanks to the exclusive use of shades. I feel the combination of black and white works exceptionally well, enhanced by the utilisation of cardboard in its character and world design. The use of cardboard is genuinely distinctive; it imparts a child-like innocence to the short, which I feel perfectly complements its more mature storytelling.

At its core, the short film explores how we, as individuals, carry unnecessary baggage that is not so easy to unload. Whether it pertains to our dislike of our appearance, scent, or how we perceive the work we produce, many of us struggle with these feelings. I often panic over my work as a critic, convinced it does not meet a good standard and is truly lacking. However, that is not the case; that is merely one piece of mental baggage weighing me down. It’s easier to recognise this than to confront it. The short film conveys this idea well, as you cannot simply remove your unnecessary baggage as if it were a prohibited item you cannot carry onto a plane.

Baggage is a visually distinctive and delightful film. It uses animation effectively to tell an engaging and meaningful story that anyone can relate to. Clocking in at only five minutes, it uses every second perfectly, leading to a fantastic short.

5 Stars

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