Opening with a lengthy
silent sequence—and eschewing narration throughout its 30-minute running
time—Templeton's "Peter & The Wolf" makes its Russian setting more
paramount, emphasizing the hardscrabble existence of the adventurous Peter and
his overprotective grandfather. This Peter wears an expression of burned-in
resentment over his lot in life, though during the time he spends frolicking
with his animal friends in the woods, Peter comes to realize that even nature
has its bullies: Birds chase each other, a cat chases the birds, the wolf
chases the cat, hunters chase the wolf, and so on. Though Templeton's
insistence on keeping her short film dialogue-free makes the action and the
motivation a little obscure at times, her "Peter & The Wolf" carries a
pervasive, profound sense of life's fundamental unfairness. And in keeping with
that sense of injustice, Templeton tinkers with Prokofiev's ending, aiming for
something that's less pat and triumphant, and more reflective of the growing
kinship Peter feels with the feral.
Key features: Extensive looks at the animation
process—including a fascinating Templeton commentary over a partially
complete version of the film—plus the obligatory instrument-to-character
key.
