Batfish Soup Sparknotes

We all have at least one family member who stands out from the rest. Whether it’s an aunt or a distant cousin, their personality and demeanor is so strange that you wonder how they can be related to you. But, what would you do if they randomly showed up at your front door? Would you pretend you weren’t home or would you invite them in? For the family in Batfish Soup, they have no idea what to do when quirky family members make a surprise visit.

Batfish Soup, which was created by Amanda Bonaiuto, tells the story of a family who are enjoying a quiet day at home when their serenity is suddenly interrupted by the sound of the doorbell ringing. Hesitant, the daughter opens the front door and two family members walk in with suitcases. From the moment

they enter the home, things get extremely weird.
With no spoken dialogue, this animation relies on the characters’ actions and demeanors to reveal how they are feeling in each scene.

When the quirky family members first ring the doorbell, it startles the mother and makes her drop the pot of vegetables she was holding. As the doorbell continues to ring, the parents and their children stare at each other in confusion as they debate if they should open the door. Once the daughter opens the door and the quirky family members walk in, the mother hides behind a door as she watches from a distance. Never leaving the kitchen, the mother and father leave their children to interact with their guests. By hiding, the parent’s behavior tells the audience there is a good reason why they don’t want to interact with these family members. Then the quirky family members begin to move furniture around until it’s placed where they want it. Their actions show they have no respect for the family or their personal belongings and feel as if they can do whatever they want. As they are moving the furniture, the mother turns on a blender so she doesn’t have to listen to the noise they are creating. The mother is clearly annoyed by her guests and has no desire to interact with them. Although it’s unclear whose relatives these are, it’s obvious nobody enjoys being around

them.
To show how tense the family felt around their guests, Bonaiuto utilized severe different sounds. When the unwelcomed family members are introduced, they are surrounded by flies which you can hear buzzing around them. Then there’s a moment when one of the guests places their suitcase on the couch to open it. The audience can hear the suitcase being lifted and the latch being opened. Eerie music begins to play as the contents of the suitcase are revealed. The guest picks up a doll with missing limbs and holds it in front of the children. The children stare at the doll for a moment and are heard whispering to each other before the son grabs the doll and throws it in a fish tank. Each sound was vital to the story and added extra dimension to the characters.
Batfish Soup, which was the official selection at the 2017 Slamdance Film Festival and Holland Animation Film Festival, is unlike other animations because it takes a different approach to storytelling. It is able to tell a compelling and relatable story while keeping its audience interested and providing them with the right amount of questions about the characters. Although this film may not appeal to everyone, it will definitely spark your interest in experimental short films.