Marion Rasche

The very first images in the film set unprecedented standards in East German animated film: a Buñuelean eye that fills the entire screen, real-life sequences of fleeing animals and a sound collage running contrary to what is seen on the screen. This also extends to the protagonist of the film, a head on a foot without a body or arms who pads wearily through the depressing surroundings. Upon seeing various figures in the sky, he begins to copy their movements. To his surprise, he himself manages to grow wings and takes to the skies. But his attempt at flight ends in a sobering manner however, as it is revealed that flying creatures are just restricted in their range.

An enumeration of various ways by which the public might react to a film projection.

A beautiful seagull is injured during a storm, ends up in a forest and joins a family of woodpeckers. She is rejected by the older members, but the young woodpecker falls in love with her. So he leaves the forest at home and takes her to the sea, where the seagulls live. There the alien is also rejected. Now they are both looking for a land where they can be happy undisturbed. Several times we see a lonely seagull soaring over the waves of the sea and a woodpecker knocking on the trees of the nearby forest - before both find each other again in the community.

The very first images in the film set unprecedented standards in East German animated film: a Buñuelean eye that fills the entire screen, real-life sequences of fleeing animals and a sound collage running contrary to what is seen on the screen. This also extends to the protagonist of the film, a head on a foot without a body or arms who pads wearily through the depressing surroundings. Upon seeing various figures in the sky, he begins to copy their movements. To his surprise, he himself manages to grow wings and takes to the skies. But his attempt at flight ends in a sobering manner however, as it is revealed that flying creatures are just restricted in their range.

An enumeration of various ways by which the public might react to a film projection.

An enumeration of various ways by which the public might react to a film projection.

A beautiful seagull is injured during a storm, ends up in a forest and joins a family of woodpeckers. She is rejected by the older members, but the young woodpecker falls in love with her. So he leaves the forest at home and takes her to the sea, where the seagulls live. There the alien is also rejected. Now they are both looking for a land where they can be happy undisturbed. Several times we see a lonely seagull soaring over the waves of the sea and a woodpecker knocking on the trees of the nearby forest - before both find each other again in the community.

A beautiful seagull is injured during a storm, ends up in a forest and joins a family of woodpeckers. She is rejected by the older members, but the young woodpecker falls in love with her. So he leaves the forest at home and takes her to the sea, where the seagulls live. There the alien is also rejected. Now they are both looking for a land where they can be happy undisturbed. Several times we see a lonely seagull soaring over the waves of the sea and a woodpecker knocking on the trees of the nearby forest - before both find each other again in the community.