Once again there was a short animated film from Pixar before the main Disney computer animated feature in the cinema, Cars. This one sees a busker on a stage, small, playing all his instruments hoping to get some money put in his cap. Along comes a little peasant girl ready to put her shiny gold penny in the near piazza water fountain, when the busker spots her and starts playing to tempt her to give it to him. Across the street however starts playing another busker with his assortment of string instruments, and the girl goes towards him to be tempted to cough up the cash. This need for attention from the little girl and for the penny is becoming a musical feud, and after a humorous rivalry the girl drops her coin into the nearby drain. The little girl is upset and wants her money back, but neither busker has a penny to give her, so she instead takes a violin off the second busker. She starts playing badly and trying to tune it, and she eventually plays well, and she ends up getting a whole sack full of coins. It looks like she might give the two buskers a coin each, but she instead tosses them both into the above high bird bath, and the film ends with them clambering on each other to get them. With some good music, amusing moments, and the same sense of heart has been put into a simple but affective tale for all the family to enjoy. It was nominated the Oscar for Best Short Animated Film. Very good!
Review of One Man Band
