Piper: an endearing short film about the ability to excel

A short animated film that helps to understand the importance of education and personal development.

Many media outlets in the summer of 2016 echoed "Piper", a story that illustrates the life of a baby sandpiper (a species of bird common in wetlands) that ventures for the first time in search of food.

This work directed by Alan Barillaro has been considered by critics as one of Disney Pixar's best short films.

Today, the team of the Instituto de Asistencia Psicológica y Psiquiátrica Mensalus presents the award-winning work and shares with us an interesting reflection on this work.

A short film that teaches us to better ourselves day by day

There are many innate abilities that are reflected in this story, aren't there?

Yes, they are. According to Alan Barillaro, "This is a tale about growing by the hand of courage in a world that seems big and intimidating".

The story exposes the courage needed to overcome the fear aroused by uncertainty. This is something that is often repeated in our lives: not knowing makes us feel insecure. Of course, when faced with the unknown, we always have two options: to show curiosity to experience it or to fear it in order to avoid it.

The ability to overcome tells us that, after living the experience, we gain something more precious (learning) than what we lose ("comfort"). In this way, the goal becomes meaningful. Likewise, fear warns us of what we must protect ourselves from. Well, this system is functional as long as it allows us to follow and does not hide us inside the nest.

The short film is revealing because it manages to convey a range of emotions that we have all felt at some point in our lives...

That's right. Specifically, the concept of "feeling small" is well illustrated. The producer explains, "I love to play with something people are familiar with, like a beach, and give a new perspective on how a bird that is only four inches off the ground might feel." A great move, no doubt. This is exactly how, at times, we can feel when faced with unfamiliar situations from which we predict hostility, difficulty and suffering.

It is exciting when the protagonist decides to dive into the water and discovers, in addition to the richness of the seabed, the benefit generated by his ability to collect food. How can we understand this message?

The little bird, besides enjoying and feeling capable, connects with part of his identity associated with something that the rest of the birds of his species do.

This "doing like others" teaches him and reminds him of who he is, forges the feeling of collective identity and, in parallel, reinforces the feeling of usefulness associated with the ability to obtain food and share it. All this "emotional pack" turns him into an autonomous being.

At the beginning we see how the mother exercises a very interesting function: accompanying the child without solving the problem... Yes.

Yes, this is another of the aspects shown in the short film: the necessary space for growth. Undoubtedly, it is not an easy position. Many parents can see their fears reflected in an idea: "If I leave him alone, will he learn?

Piper's mother knows that her son needs to understand that food will not come to the nest, but that the only way to survive is to go for it.In fact, she does not leave him alone, she accompanies him by example. The security of the parents in this sense will facilitate or hinder the child's maturation process. "Letting fly" without letting be is the great recipe. A recipe that is not magic and, as all parents know, is not an easy task.

"To all parents who, day after day, exercise the work of teaching and loving unconditionally".

Source of the short film and the voice of the creator: www.usatoday.com