“And the world’s best mother award goes to..,” which a classmate shouted out sarcastically after the 2005 Oscar-winning short film “Wasp” ended, summed up the film for me. “Wasp” follows a day in the life of Zoe, the young mother of four unkempt children. The opening scene sets the tone of the entire short film, as we follow Zoe and her three children and baby as they go to jump some woman who hit her daughter. Curses, as well as fists, were freely thrown in front of the children, who treated it like a normal day occurrence. On the way home, Zoe is approached by an old male friend who invites her out for a drink. Since she can’t find anyone to watch her kids, she takes her kids with her and makes them wait outside the bar.
Now, I understand that this film won an Oscar, but for the life of me I can’t comprehend WHY. Sure, the film reels you in and you laugh at the right moments and wait in anticipation for the climatic turn of events, but then you’re left extremely disappointed. It was like being a kid and waking up on Christmas expecting toys and getting nothing but new clothes. I kept sitting there waiting for something really exciting to happen, maybe her kids would get hurt or even worse kidnapped! but what really happened was so anti-climatic. If anything, it made me just hate the mother even more for getting away with her stupidity. Maybe I’ve just been programmed to think that people should get what is coming to them, at least in movies.
I’ve noticed that it’s the most shocking and usually depressing films that get recognition from the Academy, and for the life of me I can’t understand why. I guess I would have found the film to be much more entertaining if something blew up or there were some CGI animations. I guess blockbusters have jaded me for independent films forever.
That was me who shouted that line.