Tomorrow is an animated dramedy short by Iranian director-screenwriter Aryasb Feiz. The film is set on an autumn day in 1970s Shiraz, Iran. A 10-year-old street urchin must steal morphine from a gruff antique shop owner, Semsar, to help his sickly father. While on the run, the boy befriends a loyal stray dog. During the escape, one of the morphine vials breaks, and he must return to the antique shop. In the meantime, his father’s condition is worsening.
The boy and his dog must sneak back into Semsar’s home and steal another vial. As Semsar chases them with his gun, it becomes a life-or-death situation, which escalates when the dog becomes trapped in the man’s home. The boy must decide whether to bring the medicine to his father or save his captured friend.
“… 10-year-old street urchin must steal morphine from a gruff antique shop owner, Semsar, to help his sickly father.”
Feiz’s short is beautifully constructed due to its balanced tone of comedy and drama. The storyline is succinctly done, as Saeed Ghanizadeh’s storyboard work has a contemporary silent film feel. The slapstick sequences are suspenseful, and audiences will be shocked to see brief glimpses of blood. The young urchin and his dog are captivating due to their Pixar-esque designs by Mehdi Alibeygi. Children will love the scene-stealing stray dog as he loosely resembles Dug from Peter Docter’s Up.
This is a high-quality film as Feiz, Kaveh Ruintan, and Amir Sajad Zoqhi wrote a relatable story. The street urchin’s urgency to save his father’s life will resonate with adults due to its real-life subject matter. Aryasb Feiz and his animation team bring A-list craftsmanship. Many indie shorts struggle with pacing and telling a cohesive storyline, and Feiz’s film proves it can be successfully done! I hope to see a feature film by him in the near future. Tomorrow is a treat for those looking for a fast-paced and heartwarming film.
"…a treat."
