Rob Munday

When we talk about experimental animation, the assumption is often that it prioritises formal exploration over narrative clarity – pushing the boundaries of the medium while leaving story as a secondary concern. Maks Rzontkowski’s short Martyr’s Guidebook, however, occupies an interesting space between the two, combining an unusual aesthetic with a fragmented yet consistently engaging storyline.

The film opens in overtly surreal fashion: carrots drift through a classroom as the camera orbits a cake perched on a desk, all set to buoyant, almost gleeful music. Even once more traditional narrative elements are introduced after the title card, “conventional” would hardly be an appropriate description. A young boy (Tony) performs a small act of kindness involving a carrot cake, only to find himself unexpectedly befriended by an angel. What follows is a chronicle of this unlikely friendship – unfolding in ways that remain playful and strange, but never alienating.

Animated using Blender, the film’s visual style is glitchy and frenetic – very much in tune with the chaotic energy of its storyline. The camera focus feels intentionally unconventional, the angles tilt slightly off-kilter, and the editing is rapid and energetic, all of which make Martyr’s Guidebook a surprising and unexpectedly enjoyable watch. Fans of carrot cake – and perhaps more traditional approaches to filmmaking – may disagree, but for us, Rzontkowski’s blend of story and style feels refreshingly singular. It’s exactly the kind of bold, slightly unclassifiable film we love to champion on S/W.