Month: February 2018

Film Review: STUPID SMARTPHONE THERAPY, Germany, Experimental

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An inversion on the classic “millenials are addicted to their phone” cliche, STUPID SMARTPHONE THERAPY turns the trope on its head and tells the story of a young German girl going on vacation to Toronto with her father. But the vacation is soured by her father’s inability to look away from his phone.

A humorous bit of social commentary, STUPID SMARTPHONE THERAPY breaks open and examines are dependency on technology, while also making statements about  some of the social constructs and assumptions we walk around with everyday. Our heroine is quirky and loveable, her wit and charm are infectiously entertaining. The film’s style makes a thought-provoking and slightly absurdist comedy that the whole family can enjoy. Well done, director Garmamine Sideau!

Review by Kierston Drier

PLAYED at the January 2018 EUROPEAN Film Festival.

WATCH the Audience FEEDBACK Video:

STUPID SMARTPHONE THERAPY, 4min., Germany, Experimental
Directed by Garmamie SideauThe social impacts of various technological innovations are redefining the role of human relationships and communication in a growing globally connected and diverse digital world. Meet Serena, a biracial German teenager on a dream vacation to Canada with Henok, her smartphone addicted workaholic father. Serena’s dream vacation is quickly tuned into a puzzling and challenging nightmare of personal conflicts involving smartphones, identity, belonging and jiujitsu.

CLICK HERE – and see full info and more pics of the film!

Film Review: CITY OF MY HEART, Greece, Documentary 

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A kaleidoscope of moments, images, faces and colours that encapsulate the bright, vibrant and diverse city of Madrid, CITY OF MY HEART is a four minute film that throws us into another world. This pulsating and energizing film from director Kostas Petsas, takes the viewers through a city through a series of quick vignettes.  

What is most charming about CITY OF MY HEART, is how deeply it pulls the viewer in. From first to final frame, your eyes are glued to the screen, engulfed in the vivid and intoxicating exotic world. A love letter to a rich world full of life and culture, CITY OF MY HEART will make you want to instantly book a plane ticket to this beautiful place.

Review by Kierston Drier

PLAYED at the January 2018 EUROPEAN Film Festival.

WATCH the Audience FEEDBACK Video:

CITY OF MY HEART, 4min., Greece, Documentary 
Directed by Kostas PetsasA personal glimpse into Madrid, an experimental urban cityscape, an ode to life through a dance.

CLICK HERE – and see full info and more pics of the film!

Film Review: THE FLOW, Belgium, Adventure

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THE FLOW a sharp, poignant and beautifully sweeping film coming from Belgium tells the story of a young man whose car breaks down in the middle of a deserted road. Under director Jelle Bleyenbregh, this film has an awe-inspiring quality to it, full to bursting with cinematic moments.

The film has no dialogue, but no lack of story. In a slender three minutes our hero hits his major conflict with his car and must face the great wild elements to get to civilization. But what starts out as working against the elements turns into a journey of finding harmony within them.

A gorgeous film with incredible music and wonderful composition, it encapsulates the reminder that in the vast scheme of things, we are all very small. But it is deeper than that- THE FLOW is a story about how, sometimes we must get lost to find ourselves.

Review by Kierston Drier

PLAYED at the January 2018 EUROPEAN Film Festival.

WATCH the Audience FEEDBACK Video:

THE FLOW, 3min., Belgium, Adventure
Directed by Jelle BleyenberghWhen the car of a young man breaks down, his feet take him on a journey that might surpass his destination.

CLICK HERE – and see full info and more pics of the film!

Film Review: MAMMA, Italy, Crime/Thriller

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MAMMA, a frighteningly real and terrifyingly visceral Italian film from director Gonzalo Coteio, tells the story of woman in a shop who falls victim to a robbing. The result is a strong and horrifying scene of a woman caught in a dangerous life-threatening situation with no knowledge of what is going on or how she can save herself.

There is a clear stylistic choice in this film to not use subtitles for the communication between the assailants. While it may strike some viewers as difficult- the choice is a brilliant one. It creates a hyper-real sense of terror and confusion and makes the viewer relate to the woman being attacked. She can’t understand the language of the assailants, so neither can the viewers. The result is to be utterly entrenched in the scene, and to be forced to face the harsh fear of the situation along with our heroine, not outside of it as an external viewer.

The twist in MAMMA is buried in the title, but there is humanity to be found in even the most horrible situations. For reasons we don’t find out until the end of the piece, our heroine in spared certain death. To find out though, you must watch the wild and intense ride that is MAMMA.

Review by Kierston Drier

PLAYED at the January 2018 EUROPEAN Film Festival.

WATCH the Audience FEEDBACK Video:

MAMMA, 5min., Italy, Crime/Thriller
Directed by Gonzalo Cotelo A young woman finds herself trapped in the middle of a gang turf war when she witnesses a cold blooded murder.

CLICK HERE – and see full info and more pics of the film!

Film Review: MARTINA, OH MARTINA, Spain, Romance/Drama 

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Oh to be young and feel the feelings of life for the first time!  MARTINA, OH MARTINA is a story about such times. Martina is a young, quirky girl with her first crush. As that crush entices her, then fails to reciprocate, the world- or, rather, her world, begins to come to a cataclysmic end. A giant meteor is heading for the earth and life as we know it is about to end.

Or at least it is for Martina.

The beautiful thing about this twelve minute quirky-romance-comedy coming to us from director Fatima Martin, is how beautiful it captures the passion of youth. Our sweet, lovable and relatable heroine, Martina, so perfectly encapsulates the familiar feeling of early unrequited love. Not only that, but she also creates a relatable voice for that unique feeling that, without reciprocation for said love, the world will surely come to an end.

Smartly witty, disarmingly charming and boasting excellent casting in choice for Martina, MARTINA, OH MARTINA is the story of adolescence come to life. A  coming-of-age film that delivers on thought, feeling and whimsy, and worth every frame.

Review by Kierston Drier

PLAYED at the January 2018 EUROPEAN Film Festival.

WATCH the Audience FEEDBACK Video:

MARTINA, OH MARTINA, 12min., Spain, Romance/Drama 
Directed by Fatima MartinSandwich: roll or slices of bread with a layer of meat, cheese, or other food between them. Typical or characteristic of those of romantic nature, sensitive to acts of love and destined to die crushed by a big fat comet.

CLICK HERE – and see full info and more pics of the film!

MARTINA, OH MARTINA Short Film – Audience FEEDBACK Video from EUROPEAN Jan. 2018 Festival

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europeanshortfilmfestival's avatarEUROPEAN Short Film and Screenplay Festival

MARTINA, OH MARTINA, 12min., Spain, Romance/Drama 
Directed by Fatima Martin

Sandwich: roll or slices of bread with a layer of meat, cheese, or other food between them. Typical or characteristic of those of romantic nature, sensitive to acts of love and destined to die crushed by a big fat comet.

CLICK HERE – and see full info and more pics of the film!

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Film Review: BOLD GREEN, Germany, Romance/Drama

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BOLD GREEN, a twenty-eight minute coming-of-age comedy about young Alja, who dreams of being an astronaut but is terrified of heights. Terrified of not having her feet on the ground and yet longing to soar above the clouds she seeks help from her friend to face her fears. Ironically though her friend is suffering from MS and everyday for him is a roulette game of debilitating symptoms.

What transpires is a story of love and friendship, humor and poignancy, fear and triumph.   Brightly shot with homage paid to the whimsy of youth, BOLD GREEN is a heartfelt and multi-layered story. There is a charm in its’ composition- the characters are complex, but their goals are simple. Each main character has a rich past and a future full of hurdles, but their dreams are innocent, pure and full of enthusiasm. BOLD GREEN is a film where we watch two young people take the first tentative steps out of childhood and into the rest of their lives.

A lovely blend of comedy, romance and overcoming obstacles, BOLD GREEN is a family film not to miss.

Review by Kierston Drier

PLAYED at the January 2018 EUROPEAN Film Festival.

WATCH the Audience FEEDBACK Video:

BOLD GREEN, 28min., Germany, Romance/Drama 
Directed by Selon FischerAlja just finished school and wants to be an astronaut, despite her fear of heights. Together with her best friend Konrad, who is suffering from multiple sclerosis, she trains to achieve her goal.

CLICK HERE – and see full info and more pics of the film!