Time: 84 Minutes
Director: Florence Miailhe

When The Crossing showed up at my local film society, I had no idea what it was, just that it was an animated movie from a few years ago. It’s quite good.

This Crossing is about siblings fleeing from war as refugees, the story itself is pretty familiar and is in common with other refugee narratives. However, I found the story to be powerful and moving, and it was seemingly inspired by the director’s own family history, so it felt very personal. It depicts plenty of horrific circumstances and is pretty bleak yet hopeful in parts with brief moments of humanity. It also does well at showing the perspectives of the kids with moments of childlike wonder. I also do like the note they chose to end the movie on tonally.

Florence Miaihe’s direction is strong. It’s a gorgeously animated movie, uniquely done by painting on glass, and it was just stunning to watch from beginning to end. It also makes effective use of this medium as it makes it feel like you’re watching a storybook, and conveys the perspectives of the child characters.

The Crossing is a bleak, moving, and well crafted film, with beautiful animation. I think it’s definitely worth checking out at the very least, even just for the animation.