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ENCOUNTER, THE

What an interesting short film. I was sort of confused in the first half of it but, in the end, everything comes together in a beautiful way.

The film begins with a purple cat trying to drop off a letter at the mailboxes in his building, only to have it blown away and him scurrying to his room. Then other residents happen upon one another, each sort of suspicious about who the others are and taking solace in their own apartment. Eventually, they all get a letter - to meet in the garden at 7, and each one interprets it differently. When they do go to the garden, everyone is there and something extraordinary happens.

I like the mystery behind the letters and the residents interpretation of them. The animation is quite delightful with wonderfully colorful characters, including the building where they all live which is a character itself. The suspense is carried throughout the first half of the film and it is only when all the residents gather in the garden that we find out why they were called there. The ending is particularly rewarding as it brings everyone together in a beautiful way.

The film's message is about misinterpretation and how easy it is to put a negative spin on things when we don't know what's really going on. Why not choose a positive spin?

I give The Encounter 4 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 8 to 18, plus adults. By Marilyn S., KIDS FIRST!

What an interesting short film. I was sort of confused in the first half of it but, in the end, everything comes together in a beautiful way.

The film begins with a purple cat trying to drop off a letter at the mailboxes in his building, only to have it blown away and him scurrying to his room. Then other residents happen upon one another, each sort of suspicious about who the others are and taking solace in their own apartment. Eventually, they all get a letter - to meet in the garden at 7, and each one interprets it differently. When they do go to the garden, everyone is there and something extraordinary happens.

I like the mystery behind the letters and the residents interpretation of them. The animation is quite delightful with wonderfully colorful characters, including the building where they all live which is a character itself. The suspense is carried throughout the first half of the film and it is only when all the residents gather in the garden that we find out why they were called there. The ending is particularly rewarding as it brings everyone together in a beautiful way.

The film's message is about misinterpretation and how easy it is to put a negative spin on things when we don't know what's really going on. Why not choose a positive spin?

I give The Encounter 4 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 8 to 18, plus adults. By Marilyn S., KIDS FIRST!

What happens in a formerly friendly apartment complex, now on the verge of collapse, when the terrified, isolated residents receive a half-blurred message from an unknown sender? Of course, each of them misinterprets it according to their own desires.