Value the time of your life. That’s the message of this inspiring short film title The Eagleman Stag, which Michael Please made as his dissertation at the Royal College of Art, which went on to become a BAFTA winner. It’s the sort of short film that reminds one of the genuine artistry and innovation the medium can achieve.
The film’s premise is one of time, with the protagonist becoming increasingly obsessed with the quickening passage of time as he speeds towards his final destination. And time, it seems, is something Michael Please has invested a great amount of in The Eagleman Stag. The film incorporates thousands of hand-crafted models over 115 sets. It seems the making of this short film must have been as inspiring a story as the product itself.
Inspiring in so many ways, which one should I pick out? For me, The Eagleman Stag’s number one inspiration has to be the way in which it inspires viewers to take a step back, to look at themselves and their lives, to recognise the beauty and value of the present moment as a stepping stone on life’s path. It leaves the viewer humbled, feeling a part of life’s much grander scheme (a good thing, given the immense health benefits of humility).