Madeleine (2023) Short Film by Raquel Sancinetti, a granddaughter’s animated, documentary quest to find her roots. Winner of the Short Film Jury Award. Watch the emotional documentary now.
🦋 Madeleine (2023) — Animated / Documentary Short Film by Raquel Sancinetti
What does it mean to live fully when time feels short? In Madeleine, Brazilian‑Canadian animator Raquel Sancinetti crafts a delicate, 8‑minute animated short about an unlikely friendship between a young filmmaker and a 107‑year‑old woman. It’s a film about memory, joy, and the quiet rebellion of choosing to live vibrantly, even at the edge of life.
🧭 Overview
- Genre: Animation · Documentary · Friendship 🎭
- Director & Animator: Raquel Sancinetti 🎬
- Runtime: 15 minutes ⏱️
- Country: Canada 🇨🇦
- Language: French (with subtitles)
- Release: 2023 (festival circuit)
- Awards & Festivals:
- 🏆 Best Canadian Short — Sommets du cinéma d’animation
- 🏆 Special Jury Award — Annecy International Animation Film Festival
- Screened at TIFF, Ottawa International Animation Festival, and Clermont‑Ferrand
Watch the short:
📖 Story in Brief
- The Meeting: Raquel befriends Madeleine, a 107‑year‑old woman living in Montreal.
- The Bond: Through conversations, laughter, and shared imagination, they form a friendship that transcends age.
- The Adventure: Together, they dream up whimsical journeys — from flying through the sky to swimming with butterflies.
- The Reflection: Madeleine’s memories and vitality remind Raquel (and us) that life is not measured in years, but in moments of joy.
🎨 Creative DNA & Style
- Hand‑drawn warmth: Gentle, textured animation mirrors the fragility and beauty of memory.
- Hybrid storytelling: Combines documentary audio recordings of Madeleine with fantastical animated sequences.
- Playful surrealism: Everyday conversations blossom into magical adventures — a visual metaphor for imagination’s power.
- Tone: Tender, humorous, and deeply life‑affirming.
🌟 Themes & Resonance
- Friendship across generations: Connection that defies age and circumstance.
- Memory as art: How stories and recollections become living, breathing worlds.
- Joy in small things: Choosing laughter, play, and wonder even in old age.
- Mortality & vitality: A reminder that life’s value lies in how we live, not how long.
✅ Pros & ❌ Cons
Pros
- 🎯 Unique premise: A real friendship turned into animated magic.
- 🎨 Visual charm: Hand‑drawn style feels intimate and timeless.
- 🏆 Festival acclaim: Widely celebrated for originality and warmth.
Cons
- ⏳ Short runtime: Leaves you wishing for more of Madeleine’s stories.
- 🌀 Bittersweet tone: Joy is tinged with the awareness of mortality.
💡 Humanized Takeaway
Madeleine is a love letter to friendship, imagination, and the refusal to let age define joy. Raquel Sancinetti doesn’t just animate a story — she animates a life, showing us that even at 107, laughter and adventure are possible. It’s a film that makes you want to call your grandmother, hug your friends, and dance with butterflies.
🔍 Find More & Watch
- Annecy Festival catalogue — awards and jury notes
- IMDb page for Madeleine — credits and details
- National Film Board of Canada profile — official synopsis and streaming info