Good start, but then it gets ruined

I really wanted to like this movie. I feel terribly cynical trashing it, and that's why I'm giving it a middling 5. Actually, I'm giving it a 5 because there were some superb performances.

Blending excellent reporting and strong storytelling, this is a disturbing film truly stranger than fiction

This is a coming of age storyline that you've seen in one form or another for decades. It takes a truly unique voice to make yet another one worth watching.

I was in an airport when I watched this film on YouTube – it seemed appropriate while I killed 8 hours ahead of a 15 hour journey to watch a short set in an airport. I sort of assumed that the animation would be playing with the airport idea more but the reference to departure is more than this since the journey is more one of finality or change. The animation shows an alien-style character moving through a sterile airport on his way to his next stage but this description does it a disservice.The airport is portrayed through a very minimalist series of shapes which are instantly recognizable as elevators, walkways, luggage etc while also being simple and sparse and clean. Visually it is beautiful and creative, referencing the style ad coloring of infographics that are more and more common online and in media now. These play out while the music builds softly underneath in a way that draws you in emotionally to an extent I didn't expect; it is impressive how well it works with so little. The final "departure" is one that flies in the face of the sterile simplicity of the previous images – you can take it how you find it but the dedication on the closing credits (and a bit of Googling) will tell you that the filmmaker's brother committed suicide and one assumes this had an influence here.Really engaging and well made little short – visually impressive and it uses music and character well to draw the viewer in to a degree that I didn't expect.