MIFF 2022 Short Film Review - An Ostrich Told Me the World Is Fake and I Think I Believe It

Images courtesy of the Melbourne International Film Festival.

In possibly the most hilarious 11 minutes of stop motion to exist since Chicken Run, Lachlan Pendragon’s An Ostrich Told Me The World Is Fake and I Think I Believe It goes meta, keeping you smiling from the minute you read the title. 

Neil, a young telemarketer trying to make it in the toaster sales world, starts to notice things may not be as they seem. His boss’ mouth is falling off mid conversation, his co-worker does not in fact have legs and he’s typing on air! Suspicions are confirmed by a wise ostrich who implores Neil to ‘question everything young man’, sending Neil spiralling, literally and figuratively. 

Pendragon’s crafting of this short is impeccable. Neil’s facial expressions are endlessly endearing and the overall comedic timing of the piece is giggle inducing. It’s 11 minutes you won’t regret and 11 minutes you’ll want to relive. 

Warning: you may or may not want to quit your office job after watching, I did within 5 minutes of the film’s end. Nothing is real.

An Ostrich Told Me the World Is Fake and I Think I Believe It is screening as part of the Animation Shorts program at the Melbourne International Film Festival, running in cinemas August 4-21 and online August 11-28. For tickets and more info, click here.