Phantastic work, Jesse.

Had to show it to my wife and kids, they all cried when the trolley went into the water. Very nice how the guy cleans up the cart afterwards.

Kudos!

Just some tiny comments:

-Love it how in the opening shots we only get to see the cart and the kid. Pity that we briefly see the mom's face when she pays at the counter.
-Very lovely tracking shot over the bridge. Am amazed that you pulled that off with such a simple dolly. May I ask what you used for the larger jib shots?
-Congratulations also to the composer - brilliant score
-Slight continuity lapse at the stop sign - I am sure you are painfully aware of that :)
-I didn't quite like the various shot when the cart is "reading" the map - this makes it look like the cart doesn't know where it is going - and thus, why should it read the map in the first place. Plus, the slight breathing on the different focal points make the cuts jumpy.
-I didn't quite get how the car would not see the kid, but break for a shopping cart?
-Would have like to see the kid "thank" the cart is some way. As it stands now it looks like it has given its life to save the kid and gets discarded for that. Maybe add a final shot where the kid returns the cart to the shop, and all the other carts surround it as their hero?

Keep in mind, I truly enjoyed the film, and those comments are a way of saying thanks for your sharing of this lovely film.

I just love films that tell a story without any dialogue. If you ever need any help on a project in Norway, let me know :)

Thanks for the comment Martin. Your critique is welcome although I might add that no one will find MORE wrong with the film than me :).

I see what you are saying about Cart (this is his "name") returning triumphantly to the store. That would have been a fun scene, but I don't think a triumphant return would have added anything to this story. In the end, Cart is a hero. And most acts of heroism go unnoticed and unthanked. True sacrifice is giving without expecting anything in return. I think the fact that Cart's actions go unnoticed add to the bitter-sweet nature of the ending.

Best,
Jesse

Well done

Awesome little film Jesse. Can I ask what you shot it with?

Beautiful photography. What a great synergy of reality and fantasy.

Great short, what was it shot on? looks like the 5D MkII, maybe?

Wonderful and lovely work. Congratulations! My little 4 year-old daughter loved it!

Any chance you can specifically name the camera/lens used here.

And you've officially became "an inspiration".

wow...i enjoyed every sight and sound. beautufully put together.

one of the best things I've ever seen on vimeo. Loved it!

wonderful!
loved the look and the music!

Thanks everyone. This was shot with a Red One camera with Canon EOS lenses.

Awesome work. The best I've seen in a lot of time. What about a making of?

there isn't any "like"button great enough to describe how much i enyojed that!

Absolutely amazing!

i am in love with this..
perfect :)

Lovely, Touching!! Amazing camera work. Music is really good.

phenomenal!
i absolutely loved your film. you got everything spot on.
all the little touches gave the film so much sentiment but retained it's light hearted nature.
so good jesse. well done.

beautiful film. great shots and colors.

Miguel,

I have a few BTS photos here: jesserosten.com/2009/cart-the-film

Very good work. Every aspect of this film was perfect from start to finish. You have great talent! Cant wait to see more of your work.

amazing and inspiring! thank you!

Really enjoyed this piece. I agree with your decision to not "return" the cart to the store...Well done!

Mr. Jesse, you've made my wednesday evening!

thank you.

Beautiful photography!
I love the story telling so much!
You guys are really great!!

Beautiful and touching story!
This is one of my favorite. Congrats!

Great film work and great music. Thanks

Beautiful! I thoroughly enjoyed this! Although, I couldn't help thinking that, with a slight change of scoring, this could have been a film about a murderous shopping cart stalking a little boy, hahaha

Very touching, thank you.

i'm so happy to see your film!
it's so lucky to me to find yours.
BEST

Hey, Jesse! Congratulations! Never thought a cart could make me feel so good. Great idea. Great execution. I really liked your film very much. And the string thing is fantastic since it is simple and well done.

was that shot on something with a 35MM lens adapter? or was it shot on one of the new dSLR's with video capability.

either way the look is AMAZING. Kudos!

Brilliant! This film was great, brilliant music and camerawork, very touching...

very nice !!

so beautiful, so touching! Wonderfull work!!! Absolutely brilliant!

Good things come from Redding!

Is this real life? LOL! Great job Nor-Cal!

beautiful and so raw in its presentation

what an ungrateful kid. lol.

my favorite part of the movie was the homeless man and the cart. I thought the story was going to spin off in a whole other direction when he found the cart. I like the understanding between the two characters. How did you make the cart move on its own?

That's a pretty nice movie!

I wish I could "heart" this more than once! I loved this although feel like I should sneak off somewhere now and have a little cry. I do promise to treat my shopping carts with more dignity and respect now...

Very nice short film! I definitely enjoyed it and it was nicely shot. Well done!

But one silly thing did stood out though, the blanket was on the wrong side of the cart in the shot coming out of the store.

beautiful!

Hi great short film you did there. It was very moving. I had a great idea for an alternative ending: The Lamp youtube.com/watch?v=dBqhIVyfsRg&feature=related . Anyway did you shoot it with a red or a canon ? Because some shots are just amazing. Did you use a dolly or something and a crane because i did notice once where the got up.
Just one critic in editing sometimes you jump back like when the boy is getting into the car he is allready has like one foot in the car but the next shot he's doing the thing again. I personally don't like.

I noticed the blanket on the wrong side of the cart also... when it came out of the store and into the parking lot... All in all I really enjoyed watching this video. Lovely.

I'm completely amazed. Wonderful. Beatiful. Mind-blowing.

Smooth. Reminds me of 'The Balloonatic' vimeo.com/3180472

This film reminds of a film i did called "Squeaky Feet" I filmed it on super8 it turned out pretty good.

I want to say: this is the most amazing short film, i have ever seen .! You will never fail to be moved by the little emotions of this film. i found a little words in the film :is this really life? i think that i understand that meaning now . the cart give our hope and love ,just like some guys we have never seen or remembered but they had helped us ,gave us encouragements .
thanks for you.
i just like this film very much.buy the way ,great music~ love it

You really did an excellent job here, I felt my heart warm up just watching this. To me that is the most important characteristic that makes a good film. The score is brilliant by the way! Who did the music? It sound very much like a mixture of Devotcka and Mark Mothersbaugh's music.

beautiful and moving short. thank you for sharing it.

Nice work Jesse! I love the use of the jib to reveal action in the scene with the chess players..you got the re-action in the same shot, nice. For all the hard work and attention to detail you put in, be careful to remain strict in your editing. There was a jumpcut during the cart/map sequence, but overall awesome job dude, very well done.

Simply Amazing and intelligent concept.
Vimeo needs to create a new awards symbol for this class.
The RED One, maybe after I wear out the 1DsMII.

I too thought it was going to take a twist when found in the ditch, or time warp further in time when the kid is older.

It reminded me of a British silent movie I saw as a kid maybe 40 years ago of a balloon and a kid.
Google search for hours now to maybe find it.

Cheers, and Thank You.

Enjoyed very much. Good story telling, great cinematography, and the soundtrack was icing on the cake. Congrats to all involved. Has this been in any festivals?

This was really quite excellent Jesse. You did a great job of storytelling here! Loved it!!

I love it, Jesse. I felt the humanity of the cart, however subtle. In reference to one of the comments though, I liked the fact that the face of the mom wasn't shown so much, making the viewer focus on the relationship between the kid and the cart. What really bothered me was the braking of the car; It's indeed weird that the driver didn't see the kid.

But nevertheless, I absolutely love it. This will definitely be one of my top pegs for any future object-based humanization films that I may produce.

Wonderful. Funny how close-ups of a SHOPPING CART can bring emotion from the viewer (me)! Very well done. (And I guessed you used fishing line --and was pleased to see I was right!) :)

Absolutely fantastic. How did you get the cart to move on its own?

Thank you!

People only look for continuity breaks in really great films - I expected to see the SUV still next to the cart when we zoomed out.

I wasn't sure if the cart was returning the blanket to the kid or the blanket was returning itself and controlling the cart... seemed to be a little of both.

Nice Job! I teared up there at the end-the cart had developed a personality by the end of the movie-
Great Work!

..who knew that a shopping cart could have a soul?

That really was amazing, I myself like to make videos, and have been so unwilling to try new things. But watching that was fantastic, well done. It was amazing :)

Fantastic!!!

Great video! I don't think I will ever be able to look at a shopping cart the same way again. It was sad that the shopping cart is a hero and nobody will ever know. It is true what they say " That some of the greatest people ( except in this case it is a shopping cart ) go through life largely unnoticed ". Thanks for sharing your video.

Simple Yet Dramatic. Great Scoring. Loved it and would like to see this without the music as well for a comparative lesson.

Very very well done - would like to know what equipment and editing software was used.

Amazing cinematography, music and personification. Very daring with the situations you chose. The compression from the red also came out really well. Saw the string a few times though, it should have been removed frame by frame. How did you get the supermarket location/avoid police interference for the road sequences?

WOW this is my favorit video :) realy nice

LovE LoVe LOve this..

Really touching. Well done. I don't think anyone could watch Cart skidding into the river without gasping.

I loved it. Very nice. Well Done

Small problem in the beginning with the towel in the parking lot.

Great story arc.

This film invoked such an emotional response in me that I was caught off guard. I found myself trying to figure out why I felt so sad and happy at the same time, so much so that tears were streaming down my face. First of all, the imagery and execution of this film was absolutely stunning. I admire your talent, skill, and hard work. Secondly, the plot was so simple, and the characters so unassuming, yet there was longing, loyalty, bravery, fear, and sacrifice. This is a delightfully unique and imaginative story that makes you stop and think about what's really important in life. Thank you!

Wow! Can't believe you made us all cry with grocery cart! Well done! Beautiful in all aspects of filmmaking!

Any "Cart" action figures to be released soon?

MUSIC!!!! Wow, amazing job everyone, but especially Peter Lance. So much of the story is told by the music!

One of the best short movies that I ever seen!!

I´m from Argentina and I admire your way to transmit feelings

Nice job!