directed by:
Devin Scott written by: Devin Scott genre: Short |
Now this is cool! As the old saying goes, not all heroes wear capes. From what I gather, “The Craftsman” is all about a man named Felix Landis, a guy who had the foresight to know how scarce hardwoods were during WWII and how necessary they were to make guns, and he did his part in removing a ton of that stuff from the industry by making violins with it instead. Take that, you commies! Let’s see you shoot one of those!
Alright…there’s a good chance you might describe what you’re seeing in “The Craftsman” differently than that. In fact, I think it’s fair to say that Writer/Director Devin Scott is a craftsman in his own right after watching this short animated film. This is a beautiful tribute to a life well lived, and you can see the care that has been put into every scene. You know how you see all those cooking shows where you’ll see some judge marvelling over a mouthful, as they tell you they can taste the LOVE in the dish? This is like that, only clearly not as edible…but the point is, you can really feel the love in Scott’s film. It’s all very well-written and executed, with exquisite music flowing in the background, complementing the stunning detail in the animation. Every scene seems to tell its own story through what the visuals show us, and Devin has wisely threaded in additional narration to bring it all together. You’ll not only learn about Felix and what he contributed to music, but you’ll see from the way Scott has put this film together that there’s an immense respect and appreciation for his great-grandfather’s work. You’ll see pivotal scenes like how “The Craftsman” will tell you about the scarcity of hardwoods, which in turn led Felix to have to find a different method of getting them. He turns to the scrapyards and junk heaps to discover that a bunch of old abandoned doors would likely do the trick, and he proceeds to cut’em up & sand’em down in order to get the supplies he needs to create violins. All the while, you’ll find Scott’s writing at the heart of this story, guiding us along, providing poetic insight that makes these doors have a symbolism of their own and a significant role in how this tale unfolds. The animation itself is freakin’ stunning. Sure, you’ll see a character like Felix onscreen and know that it’s animated, but look at the remarkable detail in everything that surrounds him in his workshop, or the grain on the doors, for example…it’s all so vivid that it practically looks real. To make things even more realistic, Scott had an even bigger ace up his sleeve, using AI to fill in the gaps from his great-grandfather’s voice, look, and the sound of his violins. As a music guy primarily, I am a massive fan of what Scott has done with “The Craftsman.” Do I think that Felix was probably a whole lot more into doors than anyone that we’ve ever met? Likely so, yes. That’s kind of the thing, though, y’all…to understand this film, is to understand that Felix had a passion for so many things, and he clearly had a grip on how smaller elements could play a much larger role in life. I mean, what could have easily been a bunch of old doors in the trash to most of us became his own treasure. Through his creations of these magnificent violins, he was able to carve out his own place in helping bring music & entertainment to the people. Plus, you’ve got the added value of the violin being one of the most expressive and emotional instruments that we’re fortunate to have on this planet of ours, so you can also rest assured that the work Felix put into what he loved to do in life, also ended up translating into music that would move listeners in profound ways that they’d never forget.
To listen to the history behind the doors and the stories that Felix could tell you about them was amazing. Like, listen to the story of “The Darkness,” which is a violin that was specifically crafted from a jailhouse door, and the properties of its sound seemed to somehow echo the pain and sadness that the wood originally held within it. You’ll hear many stories from Felix in his own voice, and they all carry just as much detail as he put into his musical creations. Therein lies the magic and the explanation for all this in one – Felix was a man who put his all into everything he did, whether it was a mere conversation, or something he was working on, his attention to detail was driven by the love for all that inspired him. Are any of us going to be as enthralled by different types of wood? Do any of us stop to think about and/or appreciate the stories of what might go on behind - or in front of the doors we open and close? Perhaps not…and I get that. I think, in most cases, that’s how I’d probably feel about it all normally. Having said that, such a large part of the endearing nature of “The Craftsman” and its appeal is in hearing what life was like from Felix’s own genuine perspective and point of view. You’ll hear how these tiny moments of time become something so much more to him, and you’ll definitely get a sense of how important it was for Felix to find a way to get the authentic personality of the wood he was using into the violins that he made. For what it’s worth, while I know that sounds like it would be somewhat far-fetched in its ambition, Felix made a great case for the truth in this story by playing the instruments. Most musicians out there will tell you their instruments have personalities and character to them that make them unique from any other, even those designed in the same series & such. If you needed real proof of that being true, that’s where a film like “The Craftsman” comes in to make the connection as real as the nose on your face. These inanimate objects we so frequently pass by without a second thought, all possess a soul of their own, or retain the echo of our own existence & experiences within them. Felix not only created world-class instruments with the wood he found, but he found a way to tell those stories with an authenticity that is second to none. Hearing his passion for everything makes me wonder if I even have passion for ANYTHING, you know what I mean? I think we’d all be lucky to have the incredible perspective that this man had in life, and it was genuinely inspiring to hear this dude talk. Jeez! What do we even do with something like this? “The Craftsman” is seriously special and a massive treat to experience. From sight to sound, Scott has nailed this short film down as tight as tight can be. You’ll continue to learn more about the history of the instruments, and the story itself will take a mighty twist as the violins are eventually stolen instead of being passed down through the generations of family as they were once intended to be. Where they ended up is now unknown, I’m sure, or Scott would have likely mentioned it, but you’ll be pleased to know that all was not lost in the robbery. If anything, it made me smile to think that Felix himself might not have even objected to the theft were he still alive to witness it, because even that terrible moment in time would continue the story of his creations, and his instruments would quite likely have eventually gone to a place - or an owner that would appreciate them too. Everything about this film is beautiful if you ask me, and I want to BE Felix when/if I choose to grow up one day. It’s a documentary, it’s a short film, and there’s a lot about wood to be learned in watching this…all elements that might typically be obstacles to some viewers to a degree, I suppose…but I think that Devin has done such an extraordinary job in putting this fascinating story on screen that it would truly appeal to anyone. I’m going with four and a half stars out of five…this is more than commendable work from Scott all around, and a story that will absolutely move your heart every bit as the music does. |
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