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Shorts: Death, Rebirth, and In-Between

SeaAndSky

SeaAndSky

Senior Registered
I'm a fan of shorts. Not the kind you wear, but short videos. This is a place to link your favorite shorts related to the topics above and discuss them. My initial offering is Madame Tutli-Putli. I like it best without sound myself, but to each his own. In any case, don't be a cheater, try to come up with your own understandings and interpretations. My only hint will be to watch out for moths, what they presage and where they lead . . . . .

 
Hi TABA,

These are gems, but not quite on topic as they deal with the wrong part of the arc--they are basically set (if set at all) in the birth-lifetime-death part of the arc. This thread is meant to deal with things in the other part of the arc of our existence--death--afterlife--rebirth. E.g., the initial short--as I interpret it--starts at a train station waiting for the train to the afterlife, with Madame dragging all of the tawdry remnants of what looks like a pretty dull and dismal life along with her.

Cordially,
S&S
 
Here is another one, in a lighter vein, at least if you don't mind the macabre subject matter. It deals with the adventures of two indefatigable morticians--Shank & Son--as they seek to do their continuing best by the deceased lady they are helping to her "final resting place". The stalwart (or stubborn?) pair never give up on their duty, even after they have joined her in the afterlife and seem to be on the way to the "bad place" itself . . . .

 
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Well, seems like I'm posting for an audience of one, but I likes 'em! Anyway, here is one that (like the last) starts with death--but never gets any farther! The grim reaper has a bad day. I can really empathize with a fellow old codger like this. PS--be sure to stay 'til the end (after the credits).

 
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Too much time on my hands yesterday, so today I have another--where death is not such a bad guy. I do not speak French, but the story of a little girl softening the heart of Death himself resonates without the need of language. (WARNING: Spoiler below, don't read until after you watch).



BTW--there is an English rendition of the story in the comments below. It goes like this: "basically the little girl is an orphan and death comes for her...but she ends up befriending him because she destroyed his scythe and she said she could find another...so he follows her to the saint death statue...he takes holy deaths scythe and is ready to strike her there but he decides not to when they hear the bell ring..she says she has to return to the orphanage or she will get in trouble but she really doesn't want to go back there...she says she wants to go with him..he says she can't because he has to go back to work then..she asks if he will return again and he says yes but another day...then she gets hit by that run away carriage..so they walk on together as she has died....."
 
I like the message of this next one, which looks past exterior position in deciding who is the most devilish, etc. Plus, it is "light" compared to the last. I like 'em both, but don't want to get unbalanced:

 
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Here's another funny one where Death does not get his man! There's a good laugh at the end (at least for me), but I grew up watching "Wiley Coyote" trying to catch the "Roadrunner" in a bygone day . . . . so I'm an easy target for that type of thing.


I keep wondering why there are no good humorous (or serious) shorts featuring reincarnation? There's lots of room for humor in that area. Hmmm. How about one where an Arnie Schwartzenegger finds himself in a pink bassinette? The tough guy comes back as the girlie girl (or vice versa). The rich guy comes back as the poor one (or vice versa). I think there are a lot of possibilities there, but no one is doing it. o_O
 
Finally one with some reincarnation! Our hero and a "bad" guy get to view their PLs and then have to spin the "Wheel of Karma" to see what they get next--no surprises there, but stick around for the credits. The bad guy may have gotten his just deserts, but at least it didn't last long. (The "Karma" cannon is also a nice touch).

 
Here's another, where our very small protagonist gives a completely different meaning to the light at the "end" of the legendary tunnel!


PS--Some depressing aspects, but all's well that ends well!
 
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Well, the next two may stretch the meaning of "short", but I'm inserting them anyway. They come from a very bygone movie (1939) "On Borrowed Time". This was the type of thing I used to watch in black and white on TV when I came home from school in the early 60s (and I wasn't outside 'cause the weather was bad). The background is that Grandpa wants to be able to take care of his orphaned granson "Pud" rather than let him be taken by the evil relative who wants to steal the boy's property. But Grandpa is due for his own appointment with death ("Mr. Brink"). . . .

 
In the last, fortunately or unfortunately, Grandpa tricks death into climbing into a tree that he can control and traps him there. (An idea based in an old legend). However, he has forgotten that death is also a friend, releasing those in torment. When his own grandson takes a fall and is paralyzed and in pain, he reconsiders his decision . . . .


We get to see them then walking into the "light" together. These two scenes are not, technically, "shorts". Nonetheless, I felt the need to post something to redeem "death's" reputation after all of my prior postings with Death as the villain. Maybe it is that way sometimes, but Death is also the release of the weary soul and the soul in pain to something far better. The older I get and the more faith I have in our continuing existence and development, the more I am willing to go (and not linger past my time). Also, what a difference between what we grew up with back then and what people grow up with now. I'm sure that some of today's stuff is better in quality, but it is such a mixed bag.
 
Well, here is another one after a very long break, but I think it is very worthwhile. It is in two parts (and unfortunately has quite a few commercials), but I really like the animation and the message (at least for the most part). I'm sure there is something here for everyone to quibble about (especially the level of growth achieved by the protagonist in a very short period of time), but IT IS just a movie, so enjoy what you can:


S&S
 
Well, I listened to a little bit, I wasn't sure whether this was a dream, an NDE, a past-life-recall or a piece of fiction. Sadly, after a little while I came to feel it was fiction. At least that was my first impression.

Some time ago I came to the realisation that real-life is more surprising, more intense, more intriguing and thought-provoking. There are lots of real NDE accounts out there, to me those are preferable. I guess that's a matter of taste. I used to read a lot of fiction, these days not so much.

Edit: I should add that some of this does resemble an actual NDE account, it may be the tone of voice of the narrator which is too uninvolved, compared with a first-person account of someone speaking in their own voice, their own words, which is most lacking.

Edit 2. I found two variations of the original text on a Facebook page, maybe it was a true account. The text there ends with:
"Yes, this is a copy and paste. I wrote this story down 25 years ago and have edited it a few times."
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Perhaps the act of writing and re-editing caused it to lose the immediacy of most first-hand accounts.
 
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Hi Speedwell,

I never considered this to be anything but fiction. Actually, I'm kinda surprised that anyone would respond to it in any other way, but maybe I missed something (I have to admit that I didn't try to research it as you have). Consequently, my critiques are based on it as a work of fiction derived from currently circulating ideas and testimonies regarding the arc from death through the between-lives realm to rebirth. In this case, the narrative of these three stages is framed by semi-realistic "pre" and "post" lifetime accounts--serving as "introduction" and "postlude". However, overall, I evaluate it as "art" rather than "history". In that regard, I'm more interested in the visual aspects than the story line. E.g., I like the way the "artist/storyteller" does the animation via interesting line drawings, and then fills them in with washes of color.

Still, it had its problems. And, I thought the ending was a bit dopey. I.e., for me there is a bit of a clash between the idea that the protagonist has now achieved some degree of spiritual enlightenment, but his main goal in life seems to be surfing and getting things on with a bevy of beautiful bikini clad babes. So, enlightenment leads to self-absorbed hedonism? I'm not opposed to surfing or the fairer sex. I loved surfing once upon a time, and found my own wonderful girl to marry. However, with this supposedly much wiser spirit I would have expected something a bit less hedonistic and a bit more altruistic.

Anyhow, that is my "take" on the video as an interesting, but only semi-satisfying "fictional" animated short story.

Cordially,
S&S
 
SeaAndSky said:
Well, here is another one after a very long break, but I think it is very worthwhile. It is in two parts (and unfortunately has quite a few commercials), but I really like the animation and the message (at least for the most part). I'm sure there is something here for everyone to quibble about (especially the level of growth achieved by the protagonist in a very short period of time), but IT IS just a movie, so enjoy what you can:


S&S
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Sea and sky,

Having had a NDE many years ago I can understand this. When we die it is a very personal, individual experience for everyone. The reason is because all of use are at different stages of spiritual development and awareness both incarnated on earth and in between lifetimes on the higher dimensions. As soul it pure consciousness which is apart of the cosmos and resonate beyond the mind. Everyone does experience the light because as soul we are all apart of the light and sound of god. However we will experience this out of body state from different viewpoint because we are all after all individuals. Some don't want to experience the light due to being afraid of judgment or punishment from god. So they don't merge with it and instead stay earth bound. Some for many years. However there is no judgement from god as the judgement actually comes from our higher self (soul). God already knows who we are and what or what not we will do as god after all is omnipotent (all-powerful), omniscient (all-knowing), omnipresent (all-present) and as well as eternal. So the judgement comes from ourselves not god. From god's perspective we are like little children. And like all children we will make mistakes along the way towards our spiritual evolution into adulthood as soul.

However loved the video thanks for sharing and the post....

Love and peace.

P.
 
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Hi Polaris,

I'm not always sure that I agree with all of the particulars of your posts, and that is mostly because I am just not sure of all of the particulars myself. However, I do find that I always agree with the spirit of your posts!

Cordially,
S&S
 
Polaris8 said:
However there is no judgement from god as the judgement actually comes from our higher self (soul). God already knows who we are and what or what not we will do as god after all is omnipotent (all-powerful), omniscient (all-knowing), omnipresent (all-present) and as well as eternal. So the judgement comes from ourselves not god. From god's perspective we are like little children. And like all children we will make mistakes along the way towards our spiritual evolution into adulthood as soul.
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That was the impression I got when I had an opportunity to speak to him myself. He doesn't condemn us, we do it to ourselves.
 
SeaAndSky said:
I like the message of this next one, which looks past exterior position in deciding who is the most devilish, etc. Plus, it is "light" compared to the last. I like 'em both, but don't want to get unbalanced:

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This video is 100% true I believe. Thanks for sharing this too us.
 
Here is another. This time the focus is on some things that will resonate with many folks that are on the board now or have been here during my time on the board. I.e., the search for those that we have lost, and/or the question of whether it would be better not to remember? And, at the end, a chance perhaps to take a different direction.


S&S
 
Another one, this time more in the transmigration (i.e., not necessarily human) category of reincarnation beliefs. Not my cup of tea, but one has to sympathize with poor Gaspard (especially given the lousy choices he's given):


S&S
 
SeaAndSky said:
Another one, this time more in the transmigration (i.e., not necessarily human) category of reincarnation beliefs. Not my cup of tea, but one has to sympathize with poor Gaspard (especially given the lousy choices he's given):


S&S
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It's damned similar to what is done to at least some of us.
 
SeaAndSky said:
This is for those who have lost someone dear to them. Never stop looking and hoping. Not even what seems like an impassable barrier can ultimately separate you from the one you love.


S&S
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The pain that never goes away: Losing someone you love
 
SeaAndSky said:
This is for those who have lost someone dear to them. Never stop looking and hoping. Not even what seems like an impassable barrier can ultimately separate you from the one you love.


S&S
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The tension builds up slowly and subtly. I was expecting the Dad to show up, but he just would not come and that heartbreaking fact had to be accepted. The girl spent ALL her life thinking about her father, every day, and on every bike ride. Such fluid animation and unique art style. Big hug to the creators.
 
Well, here's one with a feel good ending! And, if Satan can appear as an angel of light, well then . . . . (you'll just have to wait for the punch line).


S&S
 
Well, it has been a very long time since I posted anything here. For those unfamiliar with this thread, you may enjoy going back through the various offerings related to death, rebirth, and everything in-between. The latest offering, below, caught my attention for a couple of reasons besides the fact that the subject matter is in accordance with the theme of the thread. First, I enjoy seeing death personified as a female (for a change*), though one so skeletal and wasted as to be womanly only in voice and length of hair. Second, the theme of love that seeks to overcome death is always an interesting one to me. However, as the film makes clear, defying death by trickery and subterfuge--even for the sake of love--could have unpleasant consequences:


Cordially,
S&S

PS*--Death as a female is unusual but not unheard of. The author Neil Gaiman has done the same in "The Sandman", though his version of Death is a good deal more likable and compassionate.
 
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