The Lobster Kid is a short film that punched above its weight. Short on time and budget, director Jsf Hsu made the most of each scene and supplied a lovely soft jazz score to fit the mood.

A thirteen-year-old girl is trapped in a street gang. She uses lobster analogies when her mind needs to hide from the violence of her surroundings. She desires to escape far away to Taitung and be closer to the lobsters’ surf. Suffering from the punishment of trying to leave, she inadvertently winds up with a begging priest. As the priest has taken a vow of silence, she makes herself at home traveling the city with him, using him to sell her wares and make money for him, too.

The performances were natural with only the gang mistress sliding over the top. The rapport between the girl and monk flowed easily accompanied by a delicate humor. At one point she met up with a friend and played with the young woman’s small daughter. The monk saw that the con artist was little more than a child herself, generous and kind in spirit. The gentle jazz score never intruded but buoyed the action subtly.

My rating might be a tad high given the sometimes amateur performances. The ending won me over and warmed my heart, putting a smile on my face. Like the silent monk who could appear and disappear, I wanted to do whatever was necessary to make this homeless child happy.

7 April 2024