Tulip

A man tries to come to terms with single life after many years of marriage. Some of his wife's friends look after his home for him – but his cow, Tulip, is mopey and refuses to be handled by anyone but the dead wife. However by making links to the past and keeping memories alive they both go on.

This is based on a true story apparently and as such it doesn't have a point – it's just a story. It is funny enough, but you can see the punchline coming. It is quite touching to see the impact the death has on husband and cow, but the way they deal with it is unhealthy. The film's `point' is one of not letting go of memories – this is true to a point, but here the character basically recreates hi dead wife to please his cow.

I saw another short in French (literally `Pieces of my wife') which went the other way – the man had to get away and lose everything or he would die too. Here the message is that the best way to cope with loss is to live with the ghosts of the dead. It makes this point with little conviction.

Despite this it is interesting and touching at times. As an old family story it is interesting but as a message or a story with a point – it is lacking and too wooly.