The disjointed debris of our childhood state still lurking within our adult consciousness act as a painful, disruptive force. A ghost-like little girl keeps tapping on a woman’s consciousness, demanding attention, recalling a traumatic childhood event and thus distorting the woman’s experience of the present.
DVD available: British Animation Awards vol1.
8 min 23 secs, Digibeta, 16mm, 1996
Credits
Words: Harriett Gilbert
Father & Young Man: Kevin O’Donohoe
Mother & Young Woman: Sarah Strickett
Voices: Anthony May, Melanie Hudson, Camilla Hunsley
Live-action, Design & Production: Daniel Simpson, Adam Cutts, Mark Sewell
Lighting: Layne Comarasawmy
Editing & Sound: Tony Fish
Sound & dubbing: Nigel Heath
Compositing: Timo Arnall
Directed and animated by Marjut Rimminen
Produced by Lee Stork
A Tricky Films production for Channel 4 Television
Distribution: Tricky Films
Awards
GRAND PRIX, 1997 Tampere International Short Film Festival.
THE GRAND ANIMATION PRIZE, 1997 Vila do Conde Short Film Festival.
FIRST PRIZE, 1997 Fantoche International Animation Festival.
JURY SPECIAL PRIZE, 1997 Krakov International Short Film Festival.
2nd PRIZE in a category of BEST COMPUTER ASSISTED ANIMATION, 1997 Los Angeles World Animation Celebration.
HONORARY DISTINCTION FOR BEST ANIMATION, 1997 Drama International Short Film Festival.
FINALIST, 1998 British Animation Awards
DIRECTORS’ CHOICE AWARD for the Most Innovative Animation Work, 1998 The Images Festival, Toronto
Reviews
A compelling work which succeeds in subverting conventional definitions of story-telling, animation and cinema. Tampere International Short Film Festival jury report 5th March 1997.
The Jury has granted The Bronislaw Chromy Award for enhancing the art of animation with the new means of expression to ‘Many Happy Returns’, directed by Marjut Rimminen. Krakow International Short Film Festival jury report June 1997
The director made a gallant attempt to show something multidimensional and truly elusive through skilfully employing unconventional means of artistic expression. Pjotr Dumala: President of the Jury in Cracow International Short Film Festival, interview in the Festival Gazette 3 June 1997.
The Grand Animation Prize for the most beautiful, but disturbing film ‘Many Happy Returns’. Jury citation, Vila do Conde International Short Film Festival 1997.
Marjut Rimminen’s short film has a similar disordered atmosphere with a visual disjointedness that aptly conveys traumatic memories. The shift from a woman in live action to a doll in animation enliven the world of the subconscious and conveys the fears of a child on the brink of disaster. This film illustrates the ‘state of mind’ film well as it conveys the world of the woman’s mind in such an abstract manner that the viewer has little sense of the details of reality but experiences an oppressive sense of atmosphere. The viewer sees the child like state of the woman’s pleas for safety which are seemingly mute and powerless. Cathy Johnstone, review in the Melbourne International Short Film festival July 1997.
The film is a moving narrative with an intelligent use of the evocative potential of modern cinema. Jury citation, Fantoche International Animation Festival 1997.
However, no doubt about it, the best film of the competition won the first prize. ‘Many Happy Returns’ by Marjut Rimminen, a Channel Four production, is a combination of puppet and live action elements. The subject is rather delicate: child abuse (remember Marjut Rimminen’s former film ‘The Stain’). There is not only emotional perplexity, but also a lot of strong images. The film is wonderful and very suggestively composed. It is like a kick in the kidneys. It was worth the visit to Fantoche to watch this film. In two years we will attend Fantoche again, hoping to see an improved festival with less theory and more practice, and to discover yet another masterpiece. One masterpiece is even more than you can expect … Thomas Basgier, Animation World Network Magazine issue 2.7.1996
Many Happy Returns can be viewed or downloaded and search by the director or title.
The film is available as “British Animation Awards compilation DVD, volume 1″
The film is featured in Clare Kitson’s book “British animation: The Channel 4 factor”.
Laiz Lavratti | 26-Aug-10 at 5:47 am | Permalink
Your work is fantastic, a masterpiece of animated art. Not a single day that I don´t think in this animation, because there are many similarities with my life story. Yes, I see myself in the doll, and sometimes in women, although the two are the same person. Sorry if there are inconsistencies in the text I wrote because I´m Brazilian and my English level is intermediate and I am counting on the help of google translator. Anyway, I wish to one day, if possible, to meet you personally, although this is impossible. I had the pleasure of knowing of your existence in the Brazilian documentary “Janelas da Alma” and spent three years looking for this movie on the Internet.
Laiz Lavratti | 06-Sep-10 at 7:00 am | Permalink
Yes, I know you used the “Unhemlick” in his short film, apart from Freud’s theories about the child that lives within each of us.
Marjut | 06-Sep-10 at 7:25 am | Permalink
Thank you for your kind comment. The film “Janelas da Alma” has created lots of enthusiasm for my film. You know that the DVD is available from the British Animation Awards and there is a link from my site.
Laiz Lavrattti | 14-Sep-10 at 10:59 am | Permalink
You´re welcome! It`s a pleasure to comment about something that is an obsession for me. And yes, I knew that the DVD is available on its website. Hugs!
Laiz Lavratti | 15-Sep-10 at 8:24 am | Permalink
You’re cool, I thought that the messages I sent were not going to be answered and that you were totally inaccessible. Until I prepared for the possibility that you have prejudice with Brazilians, but for what I realized, is not the case.
Laiz Lavratti | 01-Oct-10 at 9:20 am | Permalink
You’d make a name for the woman / doll of your movie? If so, what would it be?
Alvaro | 23-Oct-10 at 4:07 pm | Permalink
Simple.. You are unreacheable to me…I barely watched “The Stain” and ” Many happy returns”. I am from Bolivia and your art is so far…so far. Maybe You’ll never read this… you were an angel. I needed your book, but I know That I won’t have it never………………………………………..You come from a first world country… I promise that you will see my art and If one day I have the opportunity………….
Laiz Lavratti | 01-Jan-11 at 12:33 pm | Permalink
You could put the date of your birthday on the item “about”. By the way…Happy 2011 for you! Hugs!!
Laiz Lavratti | 25-Jan-11 at 8:33 am | Permalink
Who did the soundtrack to the movie? I could not find the name of the pianist in the credits … beautiful song, wish I could try playing it on piano. (Yes, you have a fan too boring!) If you do not want to answer, no problem … Hugs!
Raphael | 18-Nov-11 at 1:45 pm | Permalink
The soundtrack of the movie is a piece from Erik Satie’s (French composer – 19th century) collection named “Gnossiennes”. There are 7 pieces in the collection and this one I think is no.3.
Laiz Lavratti | 25-Jan-12 at 6:21 pm | Permalink
THANK YOOOOOUUUU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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