• Skip to main content
  • Skip to header right navigation
  • Skip to site footer
  • Magazine
  • Our Story
  • Buzz Learning
  • Buzz TV
  • Contact Buzz
Buzz Magazine

Buzz Magazine

What's On in Wales - Your Ultimate Guide

  • Culture
    • Art
    • Books
    • Comedy
    • Dance
    • Film
    • Music
    • Sport
    • Theatre
    • TV
  • Life
    • Reviews
    • Interviews
    • Travel
    • Food & Drink
    • Community
    • Environment
  • Regions
    • South Wales
    • Mid Wales
    • West Wales
    • North Wales
  • What’s On
  • Culture
    • Art
    • Books
    • Comedy
    • Dance
    • Film
    • Music
    • Sport
    • Theatre
    • TV
  • Life
    • Reviews
    • Interviews
    • Travel
    • Food & Drink
    • Community
    • Environment
  • Regions
    • South Wales
    • Mid Wales
    • West Wales
    • North Wales
  • What’s On

  • Magazine
  • Our Story
  • Buzz Learning
  • Buzz TV

  • Contact Buzz
  • Write for Buzz
  • Advertising
  • Jobs
  • FAQs
  • Privacy Policy

You are here: Home / Culture / Film / A children’s book brought to life – CWCH DEILEN | FILM REVIEW

A children’s book brought to life – CWCH DEILEN | FILM REVIEW

October 21, 2021 Category: Film, Reviews Region: South Wales, West Wales
Cwch Deilen
Cwch Deilen

I first saw Cwch Deilen (Leaf Boat) at an open-air screening during a film and food festival, where it may not have received the level of attention it deserved. This Welsh animation is far better suited to the quiet intimacy of the cinema. It was then screened in Cardiff as part of the Iris Prize LGBT+ film festival, alongside four other shorts, grouped together based on their power to make people smile – and the audience certainly did chuckle aloud at times, although the film is also very moving, despite its brevity.

RELATED: ‘Short film Lesbian goes to show the great power words alone can have when delivered with a full-bodied and emotional performance.’

Its story is a relatable one, full of the highly charged emotions felt when you meet somebody new. The beginning of a relationship can be daunting for anyone, and an LGBT+ relationship brings unique challenges and worries. For those who have experienced the ruminating thought-patterns of anxiety or the heartbreak of a failed relationship, the phrase “what if,” repeated throughout the film, is all too familiar.

Cwch Deilen via YouTube

Efa Blosse-Mason, the film’s director, does a beautiful job capturing the fear and self-doubt of someone who is worried about starting a new relationship, before she lets go and learns to befriend her personal demons. The character’s love interest is less afraid to jump into unknown waters, facing life with humour and an infectious sense of adventure. Heledd and Celyn weather the storm together and overcome their differing personalities, with many moments of shared joy in between. The two characters are illustrated in a two-dimensional style in Cwch Deilen, but are animated with a lot of movement and expression.

Blosse-Mason also illustrated the backgrounds in the film with paint and oil pastels, taking inspiration from the shores of west Wales and using bright blues and oranges; Cwch Deilen could be a children’s book brought to life. On the surface, it is magical tale of two women who embark on a journey in their leaf boat; the more serious themes are woven into the subtext. The narrative is told through visual and verbal metaphors but never feels overly clichéd.

Spirited, Welsh language voice acting is provided by Catrin Stewart and Sara Gregory, and Casi Wyn’s mystical music is a fitting backdrop to the seaside setting, evocative of many small villages in Wales. A little slice of art, which I will return to in the future. 

Cwch Deilen was shown as part of the Iris Prize LGBT+ Film Festival 2021, held in Cardiff for its 15th year from Tue 5-Sun 10 Oct. It’s available to watch online until the end of the month. More info: here.

The film is also available on BBC iPlayer.

Dir: Efa Blosse-Mason (no rating, 8 mins)

words ROSANNA LEWIS for BUZZ CULTURE

KEEP READING: ‘Screened at the Iris Prize LGBT+ Film Festival, Are You Still Watching? is a sharp and witty animated trip.’

Buzz Culture

Discover how our brand new learning experience is giving young people in Wales the skills they need to get ahead

Learn More
  • Tweet

About Rosanna Lewis

Contributing Writer for Buzz Magazine. Rosanna is a music graduate, blogger and freelance editor based in Cardiff. Passionate about radio, film, TV and live music.
More
Twitter

You may also like:

ALISON COTTON entrances & unsettles on THE PORTRAIT YOU PAINTED OF ME

Sandi Toksvig

There are worse ways to spend an evening than with “silly and childish” SANDI TOKSVIG

Goodsheds

Barry’s GOODSHEDS: a smorgasbord of mouthwatering indie food faves

Rock of Ages

ROCK OF AGES ain’t nothin’ but a good time… and very little else

Renewed Welsh Women’s Classic SPRING’S GREEN SHADOW remains a magnificent read

La Cuina

LA CUINA: Cardiff’s Catalan hotspot is a local tapas treat


Sidebar

Looking for something to do?

The Ultimate Guide to What’s on in Wales!

See What’s On
BTP - Campaign

Buzz archives

Buzz Magazine

12 Gaspard Place
Barry
Vale Of Glamorgan
CF62 6SJ

[email protected]

Contact Us
  • Jobs
  • Advertising
  • Editorial
  • Submit an Event
  • Write for Buzz
About Us
  • Our Story
  • Magazine
  • Buzz Learning
  • Media Services
  • FAQs
  • Privacy Policy


Copyright © 2022   |   All Rights Reserved   |   Buzz Magazine   


We are using cookie tracking to give you the best experience on our website.

You can find out more about which cookies we track and personalise your preferences in settings.

Powered by  GDPR Cookie Compliance
Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.

Strictly Necessary Cookies

Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings.

If you disable this cookie, we will not be able to save your preferences. This means that every time you visit this website you will need to enable or disable cookies again.