“The promised Stones” is a story of two friends, Bibi and Sarah, who form a bond when Bibi comforts Sarah in a moment of sadness. The two form a bond and make a promise over a game to always keep in touch. However, after Sarah moves, Bibi loses touch with her friend. After completing school, Bibi travels to find her friend, only to learn she has fallen ill.
We recently got a chance to interview director Wan Dinnie on his influences and creative process, which you can read about here.
Having previously covered many of Wan Dinnie’s productions, “B.B.” shares many of the trademarks of his previous works. Notably, the production boasts familiar stunning visuals, a complimentary score, and the charm of supporting his students creative growth. The fact that it was done over a 10 day period, makes it all the more impressive. The result is a short film that ties in nicely with the rest of Wan Dinnie’s previous work. However, while feeling familiar with the director’s style, the production does make creative choices that show the continued growth of Dinnie.
Keeping in mind that Wan Dinnie and recent collaborator Reduan are teachers of younger students, the majority of Dinnie’s work has been focused towards education. However, within this production lies a universal message, one that discusses loss and friendship in a way that elevates it out of the territory of stylized PSA some of his other work felt reminiscent of in the narrative. With the production being co-written, perhaps having another perspective on his script allowed for the growth seen in this effort. Ultimately, Dinnie and Reduan are able to craft an emotionally charged narrative within the modest run time of 5 minutes.
With Dinnie’s rotoscope projects having an identity on their own through working with students to complete the art, there are still signs of progression within the chosen medium. This comes in the way of utilizing experimental storytelling and includes panel work, as well as certain cuts to more abstract visuals. The sound design in each production from the director has always been a major draw, and “B.B.” is no exception, highlighted by a complimentary score from the director’s brother, Adam Dani. The narration sounds nice and clear, and there is a great use of echo and distortion on some dialogue. Overall, the visual and audio presentation of the production feels unique to the director’s own aesthetic, and adds a deeper sense of identity.
Having spent time with Wan Dinnie’s films, I have grown an appreciation of his craft and unique vision. However, each production does still show some room for growth, but with the quality of his work constantly improving, it will be interesting to see what the future holds for the young filmmaker. Looking at this project, it is pretty amazing what was accomplished in a ten day span, showing that Wan Dinnie has hit his stride with his animation. However, looking at a project like this completed in that span, does leave a desire to see the director invest more time in a larger project. Overall, “B.B. Batuh Bijanji A.K.A. The Promised Stones” is director Wan Dinnie’s most polished and engaging animated film.