imagineNATIVE 25 FILM FESTIVAL REVIEW! Experimental animation reaches a new high water mark with the phenomenal Canadian short Circles, written and directed by filmmaker to watch out for, Sarah Houle. It features narration by Houle, Vittal Ghostkeeper, Shane Ghostkeeper, and Lauralyn Houle, with singing by Finn Ghostkeeper and whistling by Norma Houle. Candles burn in reverse, revealing multicolored wax figurines. Personal memories are included with cut-out drawings of family members in different colors, rotating around and around. We hear how the Cree people passed down the teachings of their origins, how they came from the sky. They are star people, traveling through a portal woven into a celestial spider web. Grandmother would make star quilts to remind them of their origins. Arorua Borealis: the ghosts are dancing. Remembering circles throughout and how the open circle is closed: a bed made after sleeping, a coat hung after wearing.
“Candles burn in reverse, revealing multicolored wax figurines.”
There are a lot of amazing experimental shorts out there, and Circles is at the top of the heap. It is a hands-down triumph in experimental animation that shows how far the format can stretch. Of course, everything starts off on the right foot with the attention-grabbing titles by Ryan Bourne, done in that repeating color style from the 70s, similar to what makes Boards of Canada sweat with excitement. There is also this perfect score by Houle and Brad Hawkins, which increases the dimensions of this four-minute wonder.
The experience of watching this masterwork is truly profound, as Circles has that same mysterious majesty found in earlier R.E.M. albums. There is something very futuristic about how throwback this whole short feels. I cannot stop being impressed by it.
Circles points to how far we can still go with the cinematic arts, as it takes us back behind the stars.
Circles screened at the 2025 imagineNATIVE Film Festival.
"…watching this masterwork is truly profound."
