Swimming lesson-La leçon de natation (2008)

Directed by: Danny de Vent | 9 minutes | animation, short film

Mieters, what someone comes up with a simple and at first sight banal idea. ‘Swimming lessons’ is a textbook example of creativity and shrewdness. Filming the atmosphere in a swimming pool seems just as attractive as seeing a Bruges wench making lace. What the hell would be so exciting to shoot an animated movie about this?

For most adults, a swimming pool holds few secrets. It contains water and you can float in it, done. For a four-year-old taking his first splash, a new world opens up. One where danger lurks on every tile. Toddler Jonas gets his first swimming lesson and is terrified. He would prefer to crawl under Mother’s skirt. He is afraid that the bluish monster will swallow him with all his skin and hair. His first encounter therefore resembles a real safari.

It starts already on the way to the two swinging doors that greet him with a growl. Behind it suddenly an icy scream sounds and the adventure for Jonas begins. With a small push, he ends up in the chlorine in which all kinds of strange creatures swim. At least, seen through the eyes of a small owner.

Director Danny De Vent eagerly uses the fears associated with a very first swimming experience. A man who arrives in a backstroke looks like a shark. Someone who jumps off the teeter-totter a large bird. Magnificent how that tremor is exploited for the benefit of delicious visual stamping. ‘Swimming Lesson’ doesn’t look as streamlined as Pixar’s fantasies, but that’s completely in the spirit of the story. This animated film is funny, endearing and yes, even exciting. And this without any form of dialogue. Apparently they were also impressed at the short film festival in Leuven and the film festival in Ghent. In 2008, this party for young and old was lauded at both festivals.

Sure enough, everything will be fine with Jonas.