I find that films that are highly stylized can easily alienate their audiences. Their stylized elements push the audience away and keep them at a distance. Because of how apparently different the film looks, feels, or sounds, there is a struggle to keep attention on anything but that, making it difficult to fall into the film’s world and pace. For Night is Short, Walk on Girl, the exact opposite is true. Both the art and animation are highly stylized, yet the very apparent and distinct style actually serves to welcome and comfort the audience.
Mikhaël Hers’s 2022 film The Passengers of the Night is a film that certainly looks and sounds wonderful. The cinematography is at moments stunning, the score and audio are pleasurable to the ears. The cast’s performances are equally well done. However, as far as narrative goes, we are not given much.