By Margaret Ulrich
The short film “Welgunzer” confounds the mind by addressing the technicalities of time travel. It delves into the wonders the mind of the main character, in such a short time through the use of Donald’s present and future selves.
Donald’s creation of a time machine is for his need to transport into the future and kill himself. This abrupt decision stems from his depression over the separation of his wife, leading to his lack of upkeep to his house and an infatuation with alcohol.
He cannot see a way out of his misery he has created and thus decides it is not worth living through.
When wading through murky bathtub water to push the button of an impossible-looking time machine, two future Donalds appear. The three Donalds travel back in time to witness his wife cheating on him (or them?), creating a chain of events, all in a boggling time warp effect. It is their continuous reference to “the feeling” that alludes to an omniscient knowledge of time and fate.
In an almost eerie twist, the most future Donald kills himself with a toaster. Though we are prepared throughout the film for the ending, the quirky character and dark humor begs for a different finale. With that sudden conclusion, the film clearly evokes the feeling of Donald knowing his fate yet becoming unsure of his commitment to it.
Its drab colors and choppy film style work to portray this feeling further. All aspects of the film create a surprisingly unsettling feeling, deserving applause for attaining that in so short a time.
“Welgunzer” will play again at 2:30 p.m. Nov. 5 at the Lucas Theatre.
