Watch If Anything Happens I Love You

If Anything Happens I Love You is an emotional and poignant animated short film that explores the aftermath of a tragedy that has befallen a family. The movie, which premiered on Netflix in November 2020, is directed by Michael Govier and Will McCormack. The film begins with shots of an empty house, a desk with a family portrait, and a school locker with a girl's name on it. The audience is then shown a couple who are, presumably, the parents of the girl whose name we see on the locker. The couple is shown to be grieving and is unable to come to terms with their loss.

The narrative of the film is structured around a series of flashbacks that depict the happy and loving relationship that the couple shared with their daughter. The filmmakers use a minimalist approach, with the characters largely silent throughout the film, relying solely on the imagery to convey the deep emotions of the story.

The film takes the audience through the stages of grief that the parents of the girl are going through. There is an eerie sense of emptiness and a haunting quality to the images as the movie progresses. We see the couple struggling to cope with their pain, feeling isolated and disconnected from one another. We witness them going about their daily routines with blank expressions, their grief palpable.

As we journey through the film, the significance of the desk with the family portrait comes into focus; we realize that the girl's parents have not been able to bring themselves to touch any of her things or make any changes to her room since she passed away. At this point, we also begin to see more flashbacks of the family, images that share the joy they experienced while the girl was alive.

The climax of the film comes when the parents finally connect with each other, sharing their sorrow and their memories of their daughter. Through a series of flashbacks, we are once again taken into the world of the family, and we see how much they loved and cared for their daughter.

Throughout the film, the animation is expressive and moving, and it is augmented by the evocative music and sound design. The animation employs a lot of white and black tones, which add to the overall melancholic mood of the movie. With a runtime just shy of 13 minutes, the film is a concise yet heart-wrenching meditation on themes such as grief, loss and how trauma can affect a family.

In conclusion, If Anything Happens I Love You is a touching and evocative film that speaks volumes, without uttering a word. The message is powerfully conveyed through the delicate animation and poignant score, and Muneer Lyati's voice-over at the end. This animated short has gained a lot of critical acclaim for addressing such a sensitive topic in a deeply respectful and poignant manner, and for being a tour-de-force of visual storytelling. This is a must-watch for anyone who appreciates innovative animated storytelling that pulls on the heartstrings.