Flatlife

As the camera closes in on four windows in a block of flats it exposes one room in each flat. On a split screen the action unfolds in all four flats at the same time, and we see how the neighbours react as their daily routines impinge upon each other. Watching television, hanging up a painting, doing the laundry, constructing a tower of cards might all seem like solitary and harmless activities, but somehow these neighbours can’t help disturbing each other, getting in each other’s way and even endangering each other – even when they just try to help out.

Using colourful and vivid drawn animation, Gaernert manages to weave in unexpected and absurd interventions – like a flying panda – in a deadpan and effortless manner.