27

Alice is about to turn 27, still living with her parents and constantly dealing with her annoying little brother. Feeling stuck, she goes out and retreats into fantasies fueled by alcohol and substances – until even those offer no refuge from her reality. There is something incredibly touching in Flóra Anna Buda’s animated short 27. From the relatability of the main character’s predicament to the energy the director infuses it with, it’s emotionally engaging, visually captivating, and undeniably fun!

Buda has explained that 27 is in many ways inspired by her own life, when she was still living with her parents in her late 20s. Since it has become increasingly common for young adults to stay home until their 30s, the feeling of being trapped between adolescence and adulthood has grown more universal, often sparking new forms of identity crises. 27 captures that privileged yet profound dread of becoming an adult, while not truly being considered as one by either the people around us or by oneself. Inevitably, something’s gotta give, and this is where Buda takes her narrative.

Visually, 27 has the perfect energy to echo its protagonist’s shifting state of mind as it switches between real life and the dreams she escapes to. Through its vibrant design and rich color palette, Buda crafts a sensual atmosphere that invites the audience into her frames with warmth and humor. The film also has a strong rhythm that gives it a punk-like energy, again echoing Alice’s inner thoughts. Albane Duplessix (Egg), the editor, perfectly adapts the pace of the film to Alice’s perception of the world, and potential consumption of “mind-altering substances”.

Heavily contributing to the film’s atmosphere of the film and enhancing the viewing experience is the soundtrack. With Buda a longtime fan of Hungarian electronic music duo COMMITTEE, she successfully enlisted them to create 27’s soundtrack and it makes for the perfect combination. From the audience perspective, the music adds layers and complexity to the short, with its cool energetic beat complementing the imagery, while also making Alice’s world feel more potent, as an integral part of the narrative. 

Following its World Premiere at the 2023 edition of the Festival de Cannes, where it won the Palme d’or, 27 went on to be selected at multiple festivals including Telluride, Toronto and Sundance. It was also nominated at the European Film Awards and was on the 2024 Academy Awards Shortlist in the Animated Short Film category.