The short film An Imaginary Life has taken home this year’s Sony Tropfest award, and you can read more about it here. Even before the grand prize was announced, this film had already stood out as my favorite among the finalists. Its storytelling is beautiful, the animation charming, and the filmmaking clever. By the end, I was left feeling deeply sad for the poor, forgotten imaginary friend at the heart of the story.
An Imaginary Life opens with footage of a young boy, Andrew, narrated by someone who seems to have loved and lost him in some way. It’s soon revealed that this narrator is Andrew’s imaginary friend. Once Andrew begins finding “real” friends, his imaginary companion is left behind, condemned to a lonely existence, quietly lingering in the background of Andrew’s childhood. The imaginary friend tries to find meaning and happiness in a life where he is no longer needed, ultimately finding solace in knowing that Andrew is happy.
The premise is both poignant and whimsical, and I found myself “oohing” and “ahhing” throughout the film. I felt a pang of sadness for the lonely imaginary friend, but the narrative was also hilariously told, balancing humor and heartache with precision. Rarely do I watch films multiple times, but over the weekend, I watched An Imaginary Life three times—I adored it that much.
Before watching this delightful take on the concept of imaginary friends, I hadn’t given much thought to these invisible companions. As a child, I don’t recall having an imaginary friend of my own—perhaps that’s my loss? However, I do remember my niece chatting animatedly with hers. In fact, she seemed to have a whole group of them, most of whom were fairies!
Did you have an imaginary friend growing up? Do you remember playing with one, or has someone told you stories about yours? Why do some children have imaginary friends while others don’t? When a child is chattering away to themselves, is that a sign of an imaginary companion? What purpose do these friends serve in childhood?
Whatever your thoughts on imaginary friends, this film made me wish I had one—and, if I did, I’d make sure never to forget my little buddy!