NFB Collection
The Head Vanishes
20169 min 28 secFilm: Animation
Direction: Franck Dion
Production: Franck Dion (Papy3D Productions)Richard Van Den Boom (Papy3D Productions)Julie Roy (National Film Board of Canada)
Script: Franck Dion
Co-production of Papy3D Productions, National Film Board of Canada and ARTE France, with the support of Centre national du cinéma et de l'image animée, and the support of CNC, Procirep and Angoo-Agicoa.
Jacqueline is starting to lose her mind—and she’s literally forgetting her head now and then. But she won’t miss her annual train trip to the seaside for anything in the world. On the way, though, she’s followed by a gigantic woman who keeps calling her “Mom.” But if she were really her daughter, surely she’d recognize her?! No matter where Jacqueline tries to hide, it’s impossible to shake her off…
In this profoundly gentle and poetic film, animator Franck Dion takes us inside the faltering, fragile mind of a woman living with dementia. Confronted by her own comical and surprising illusions, walking along the train cars as if in an unending dream, Jacqueline seeks to escape, but unconsciously so—which may be her strongest connection to the real world. Luckily, her daughter isn’t the monstrous figure she thinks she sees, and is in fact watching over her to ensure her safe journey.
Availability
Other versions
Subject categories
- Families > Health and Illness
- Seniors > Health and Illness
- Psychology and Psychiatry > Seniors
Credits
- writer
- Franck Dion
- designer
- Franck Dion
- editor
- Franck Dion
- director
- Franck Dion
- French voice
- Florence Desalme
- English voice
- Jeannie Walker
- Kathleen Fee
- English adaptation
- Kathleen Fee
- casting
- Kathleen Fee
- voice direction
- Kathleen Fee
- animation
- Gilles Cuvelier
- Gabriel Jacquel
- Nicolas Trotignon
- Franck Dion
- intern
- Bei Chen
- 3D modeling
- Nicolas Trotignon
- rigging
- Clément Vaucelle
- textures
- Studio Salon Caulaincourt
- sets
- Studio Salon Caulaincourt
- 3D renderer
- Studio Salon Caulaincourt
- compositing
- Studio Salon Caulaincourt
- original score
- Pierre Caillet
- executive music producer
- Pierre Caillet
- music - performance
- Akosh S.
- Edward Perraud
- Ludovic Balla
- Pierre Caillet
- music recording
- Thomas Vingtrinier
- music recording - assistance
- Rémi Bourcereau
- music mixing
- Thomas Vingtrinier
- music mixing - assistance
- Rémi Bourcereau
- sound design
- Pierre Yves Drapeau
- foley
- Lise Wedlock
- sound recording
- Geoffrey Mitchell
- re-recording
- Serge Boivin
- technical direction
- Pierre Plouffe
- technical coordination
- Daniel Lord
- production coordination
- Michèle Labelle
- administration
- Diane Régimbald
- administrative team
- Diane Ayotte
- Karine Desmeules
- producer
- Franck Dion
- Richard Van Den Boom
- Julie Roy
Awards
- Cristal for a Short FilmInternational Animated Film Festival
- Best Canadian Screenplay AwardFilm Festival
- Best Animation ShortNew York City Short Film Festival
- Short Film Award: Best FilmInternational Film Festival
- Special Jury MentionInternational Film Festival
- Mention spéciale du juryFestival Séquence Court-Métrage
- Grand Prix du juryFestival Les Nuits Magiques
- Best Short FilmImaginaria – International Animated Film Festival
- Prix de la meilleure mise en scèneFestival international du film d’animation de Paris
- Grand prix pour la musique (attribué au compositeur Pierre Caillet)International Sound & Film Music Festival
- Prix UnifranceFestival Off-Courts
- Prix d'animationFestival du film court de l'Isle Adam
- Prix du meilleur scénarioMutivision Festival
- Prix du publicFestival Tous Courts
- Best Animated ShortInternational Short Film Festival
- Grand Jury AwardInternational Short Film Festival
- Best AnimationLA Shorts Fest
- Prix spécial du juryFestival international du cinéma d'animation
- Honorable MentionConscious Cartoons International Animation Festival