In this animated short, Oscar® winner Chris Landreth returns with a poignant story of redemption that takes us into the relationship between a man and a woman trapped in a spiral of mutual destruction after 26 years of marriage. The Spine continues Landreth's pursuit of a twisted, beautiful and highly original visual aesthetic, using digital imagery to create characters whose physical appearances are metaphors for their unique souls.
Ages 15 to 17
Arts Education - Visual Arts
Family Studies/Home Economics - Relationships
History and Citizenship Education - Culture and Currents of Thought (1500-present)
Students studying relationships can discuss and analyze the issues that exist between the film's characters. Potential topics to be explored include self-esteem and co-dependence. This film also touches on emotional abuse, and while physical scars are often visible, in this film the emotional scars manifest themselves in the physical appearance of the characters. Students of film and animation can discuss the film's unique visual style and symbolism.