Animated film THE ABANDONED BLOCK by James C. Bourne 2020 Arpa IFF

Synopsis: A beautiful, gigantic block of marble is carved out of a quarry and sold to Antonio, a wealthy and snooty sculptor. The block however, has a crack on it’s side, but is quickly covered up by Guido, a squirrely, little marble merchant. After inspection, Antonio buys the block (for cheap) and takes it home to sculpt his next masterpiece. In his studio, however, Antonio chisels against the crack he had not noticed and breaks a massive hole in the middle of the block, rendering it useless to him. After being refunded for far more than he paid for, Antonio dismisses Guido, and the damaged block.Guido, thinking the block is now no good for anyone, reluctantly abandones it in a courtyard, where the block is now subject to the elements for years, and completely forgotten. All hope seems lost for this block, a mysterious figure is brought to the courtyard by Guido after many years. After brushing away decades of leaves growing on it and being pounded by the weather, the mysterious artist agrees to buy it and pays Guido far more than it was worth before. Within his studio, the mysterious artist takes the block, turns it upside down and goes to work, chiseling, sculpting, and polishing the block into whatever he can make out of it. Once finished, the block is covered up, and taken out to the town square, where Antonio and the entire town have come to see what this hunk of junk has been made into. Upon unveiling his artwork, the town stares in surprise and disbelief at what the mysterious artist has made out of a useless, damaged hunk of rock: The David. Centuries in the future, The David is now in the Galleria Academia, where it stands today; admired by people from every corner of the world. In a flashback, we are taken back to the courtyard where the old damaged block once stood, and a hand comes in brushing the block lovingly, reminding all the humble beginnings of a masterpiece.