Director: Adam Elliot
The biography of a humble man, his lemon tree, his Chihuahua and his love of crumpets.
Adam Elliot describes his films as ‘clay-mated biographies’ and although their physical appearance has drawn comparisons to the Wallace and Gromit franchise, his films are actually a far cry from Aardman animations.
‘I try to make believable characters who have a degree of emotional depth. I don’t sit down and try to come up with an idea. These stories have been part of me for a long time. Uncle, Cousin and Brother are all based on people I know’.
Elliot would not even class himself as a big fan of animation, the clay models having been more of an incidental medium for his pieces:
‘I am more inspired by photographers and filmmakers like Mike Leigh. My favourite film is actually Nuts in May ’
Uncle is the first in his series of short film biographies and, with moving proximity, details the little habits as well as the major life events of Elliot’s own Uncle. Like his two following biographical shorts and the Oscar winning piece Harvie Krumpet, Uncle navigates expertly between humour and pathos, comedy and tragedy.
Commentary by Adam Elliot recorded in Melbourne, Australia
Film courtesy of Adam Elliot
