SXSW 2025 | Tiger Review
Short films often have to make every frame count, and Tiger does so masterfully. Directed by Loren Waters, this 12-minute documentary short presents an intimate and visually arresting portrait of Dana Tiger’s journey to revitalize her family’s historic t-shirt business while grappling with personal tragedy and illness.
From the very first frames, Tiger establishes itself as an artistically driven piece. The cinematography by Robert L. Hunter is nothing short of breathtaking, with a dreamlike quality that makes every image feel painterly. The use of 8mm footage adds a nostalgic texture, seamlessly blending past and present. A particularly striking moment involves a jump cut transitioning from Dana Tiger smoking in the bathtub to smoke drifting out an open window, leading into archival footage. This editing choice by Amanda Moy and Eva Dubovoy, along with rapid cuts punctuated by blinding flashes, evokes the fragmented nature of memory, as if the film itself is trying to piece together the past like a photograph developing in real time.
The film’s sound design by Moy and Dubovoy enhances its immersive quality. Ambient sounds, such as the presence of Dana’s chickens, blend seamlessly with the relaxed interview style, making the storytelling feel intimate and lived-in.
The score by Trevor Kowalski complements Tiger’s visuals beautifully. The opening sequence features a delicate mix of strings, piano, and synth, creating a reflective mood before shifting to heavier guitar for the opening credits. Later, a jazz snare subtly sneaks into the soundscape, adding to the film’s layered auditory experience.
Beyond its stylistic flourishes, Tiger tells a deeply personal and compelling story. The interviews feel refreshingly natural, more like intimate conversations than rigid Q&A segments. One particularly memorable moment has Dana speaking while lying on a pool diving board, adding to the film’s casual yet deeply personal approach. Though narration is present, it never overwhelms the documentary’s organic storytelling. One of the few areas where the short feels lacking is in its context about the Tiger T-shirts themselves. While the emotional journey is clear, a feature-length format might have provided more space to explore the history and impact of the brand in greater depth.
Ultimately, Tiger is a stunningly crafted short documentary that balances storytelling with artistic innovation. Even if the narrative isn’t always straightforward, its presentation is captivating, making it a standout in the Documentary Short Competition at SXSW 2025.
Rating: ★★★★☆ (4/5)
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