Magic Candies

Absolutely exudes the trauma of childhood isolation in a beautiful heartfelt way. “Clever” doesn’t describe it well and “personal” feels diminishing. The angle at which it views the world is as bold as a child’s imagination. It’s sad for a moment, then bombastic, and finally sweet. In its short expression walks with you as you learn with this child just how we all must tenderly grow, and become ourselves. That will stick with me for a while.

The film absolutely captures the trauma of childhood isolation, but it does so in a way that’s unexpectedly beautiful and heartfelt. “Clever” doesn’t even begin to cover it, and calling it “personal” would be an understatement. The way it sees the world is as bold as a child’s imagination—raw, unfiltered, and unapologetic. One moment, it’s sad; the next, it’s downright bombastic; and then, it finds a quiet sweetness. In its brief runtime, it takes you on a journey, walking beside this child as they learn the hard truth—that growing up is a tender, painful, and necessary process. And that’s something that’ll stick with me for a long time.