55 Socks 2012
Distributed by National Film Board of Canada, 1123 Broadway, Suite 307, New York, NY 10010; 800-542-2164
Produced by Laurie Gordon, Peter Lindhout, Julie Roy
Directed by Co Hoedeman
DVD, color, 8 min.
Jr. High - General Adult
Animation, Short Films
Date Entered: 07/11/2013
Reviewed by Sebastian DerryDuring the Second World War, the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands escalates with a blockade. Major cities are cut off from fuel and supplies, empty shops, food rationing and starvation are rampant. In this desperate struggle for survival thousands die, mainly children and the elderly.
With barter being the only option, a knitted bedspread suddenly becomes a valuable commodity. Through its unraveling and repurposing, it is transformed into 55 socks. Traversing the countryside by bicycle, the narrator’s mother eventually finds a farmer’s wife willing to trade the socks for food.
Dutch-Canadian animator Co Hoedeman utilizes paper cut-outs and a monochromatic palette that results in a sharply two-dimensional rendering capable of conveying a remarkable amount of depth.
Recommended for all libraries.