Gavetta (2000)

A soldier is seen carrying the body of a child from the wreckage of a war-torn building and flashbacks show us a young lad trying to survive amidst the bombs and fires of a frightening environment. He seems quite an adaptable, capable and stoic fellow though and uses one of the fires to heat his food before falling asleep. Then he is woken up. By the soldier? By his loving mother? Has he been rescued or is this a dream? It's quite a poignant little short feature this, with Max Bell proving mouse-like as he darts about the burning scenario, dragging his life behind him, with death and destruction all around. I also liked the ambiguity at the denouement. Is it a cause for optimism or has that opportunity already gone?