OVERLAY REPORT

In Don Hertzfeldt’s film *It’s Such a Beautiful Day* (2012)—a feature-length compilation of three animated shorts—the plot is set in motion by a series of mundane daily routines that are increasingly fractured by surreal neurological symptoms. The story follows **Bill**, a stick-figure protagonist whose life begins to unravel through the following specific actions and events: ### 1. The Establishment of Mundane Routine The film opens with a series of vignettes illustrating Bill’s repetitive and socially awkward daily life. He is shown engaging in "quotidian rituals" such as: * **Waiting at a bus stop:** Bill stands at a bus stop, trapped in a cycle of overthinking minor social interactions (e.g., wondering if he should say hello to a stranger). * **Grocery shopping:** He is shown buying fruit, specifically focusing on the trivialities of choosing produce. * **Observations of the mundane:** The narrator (Hertzfeldt) details Bill’s internal monologue about his unremarkable existence, setting a baseline of "normalcy" that the rest of the film systematically deconstructs. ### 2. The Onset of Surreal Hallucinations The plot truly moves from a character study into a medical and existential drama when Bill’s perception of reality begins to fail. A pivotal early action is: * **The Cow Head Incident:** While waiting at a bus stop, Bill looks at a fellow commuter and sees that the man has the **head of a cow**. This is the first definitive sign of Bill's neurological "scrambling." * **Deformed Birds:** The narrator mentions that outside Bill's house, "horribly deformed birds checked their voicemail," signaling that Bill's reality is becoming increasingly distorted. ### 3. Physical Deterioration and the First Collapse The narrative gains momentum as Bill’s mental symptoms manifest as physical crises: * **Loss of Teeth:** In a disturbing sequence, Bill wakes up to find that four of his teeth have fallen out during the night, and his mouth is bleeding—a stark physical intrusion into his previously "mildly kvetching" life. * **The Alleyway Collapse:** Bill suffers a major "hallucinogenic mental breakdown" and **collapses in a street alley**. This event forces him into the medical system, transitioning the plot from isolated vignettes to a structured medical journey. ### 4. The Medical Catalyst The plot is further propelled by Bill’s interactions with his **doctor**. Initially, his doctor is shocked to find nothing physically wrong with him during an exam. However, as the tests continue, Bill is shown nonsensical photographs and asked questions he can no longer answer (such as distinguishing between past and present tense). The doctor's eventual revelation that Bill has a **terminal neurological condition** (implied to be a brain tumor or degenerative disease) provides the final "inciting incident" that drives the rest of the film's exploration of mortality. ### 5. Interaction with the Ex-Girlfriend Early in the film, Bill meets with his unnamed **ex-girlfriend** in a park. Their conversation focuses heavily on **death and the afterlife** (specifically discussing their fears of being buried or cremated). This interaction sets the philosophical stakes for the film, moving the plot toward Bill's eventual search for his family history and his final reconciliation with his own mortality.