Audience Award Winners: Best Feature Film: The Ones Left Behind: The Plight of Single Mothers in Japan Best Long Form Short Film: SWIM THROUGH Best Short Form Short Film: CNTRL Best Spiritual Film: HOW TO THRIVE Best Sound & Music: BEYOND THE BEAT Best Editing: BRING BACK THE WHISTLE DOG Best Cinematography: THE USELESS GLASSBLOWER Best Human Interest Film: I CAN FLY Best Direction: GEARHEADS Best Culture Film: WE ARE GURUNG
Watch the Audience Feedback Video for each film:
HOW TO THRIVE, 96min., Australia, Documentary Directed by Duy Huynh Is there a secret formula to happiness? Positive psychotherapist Marie McLeod takes 7 people on a transformative journey to learn the secret formula to happiness The film’s premise is; if we offer the science of happiness to people experiencing struggle; what difference would it make? Is happiness a learnable skill and can…
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A documentary that is not only informative, but also engaging and entertaining. “The Ones Left Behind: The Plight of Single Mothers in Japan” is a film about the contradictions in rich first world societies. Why is there so much poverty in such a rich country like Japan? Why does Japan have some of the highest levels of child poverty among developed nations? And why are the Japanese people themselves unaware of this? When you’re doing well in the world you tend to have your head in the sand, or are simply too selfish to even care.
Filmmaker Rionne McAvoy, is an Australian born martial artist who works as a professional wrestler living in Japan (no, we’re not making that up!) for the last 17 years. He comes from this film from an outsiders/insiders point of view. He understands the Japanese culture and ideology, but he’s also looking at it from the perspective of a foreigner. He sees the beauty of Japan, which is fitting because it makes him the right person to do a documentary about the ugliness of it.
The beginning moments of this excellent feature documentary sets the stage of perception vs reality. Told through excellent narration and images of Japan, the film talks about how most people perceive Japan to be – The acute business acumen. The progressive technological landscape. The perception of how Japanese people think, feel, and take in the world. Most look up to Japan if you bring it up in daily conversation. We are constantly influenced by their culture in the Western world. As I am writing this, my 4-year-old son is across from me playing Nintendo. Japan is in our everyday life.
Then Rionne spends the rest of the documentary contradicting that perception through various interviews with mothers, daughters, and sons living in Japan who feel “left behind” from that Japanese culture salesmanship of what they are selling to the rest of the world. And what amazing interviews he got. There is another perception, perhaps true, pure fiction, or something in between, that the Asian culture doesn’t share their feelings, especially feelings of frustration and/or a “poor me” attitude. They are too proud of that type of language. That is certainly NOT true with the interviews Rionne produced. In fact, there are so many amazing segments with the various families he showcased that this could be a TV series. An episode for each family.
I’m so curious how this film is being received in Japan and their thinking that a Caucasian Australian made it.
Of course this film has an easy parallel and thematic to the Western world, and of the USA especially. There is so much bullshit going on in these rich and powerful countries. And this film shows that it’s not just North America who has these problems.
Simply said, this is a well made film. Can’t wait to see what Rionne McAvoy does next. Perhaps an allegory of sportsmanship, façade, and pure entertainment seen through the lens of professional wrestling. The best story of the last year in film, TV, or the like has been the “The Bloodline / Samy Zayn” angle in the WWE. An ongoing conflict of what family and loyalty actually is, mixed with humor, difficult dilemmas, and of course great wrestling matches. I’m sure there is even better stories going on in the very popular Japanese wrestling circuit that we don’t even know about here in America!
I’m sure most have heard of the word, but perhaps don’t know what it is, or what they do. Before writing this review I reached out to 10 random friends and asked them if they knew what an anthropologist was. Only 3 people did, as the others had no idea. I’m not saying this a perfect poll. The reason I asked this question in the first place is because it also gave me pause to what it actually was.
So here is the definition:
Anthropologists study the origin, development, and behavior of humans. They examine the cultures, languages, archeological remains, and physical characteristics of people in various parts of the world.
In laymen’s terms, it’s an expert of human nature. Most anthropologists are doctors, which is the case for documentarian filmmaker Malka Shabtay, who made the amazing feature film “Nafkot -Yearning.” It makes a lot of sense for someone who studies human nature for a living to venture into documentary filmmaking. It feels like an easy transition. This is Shabtay’s 2nd film and I’m sure it’s not her last.
“Nafkot – Yearning” is about a hidden Jewish community in north Ethiopia who tell their special story of survival. I’m sure it took a lot of time and trust for Shabtay to convince this community and their people to actually go on camera and show the world. It’s still dangerous in their country and environment to be Jewish. And that is the thematic and point of this film. What people will do to keep their culture intact. It’s the legacy of the Jewish faith and culture itself. There is something amazing and honorable about this, and when researching Malka Shabtay, this seems to be what her life’s work is all about. To make sure that people know about the Jewish culture and to make sure their rich and conflict filled history remains constant throughout mankind’s future until the last human on earth perishes.
The film follows three main heroes living in Ethiopia who also happen to be Jewish. And Shabtay is another character in the film and she’s been a visitor for the last 5 years. She’s a woman with a camera and crew in a dominate patriarchal society, and that’s another sub-theme of the film. This brilliant anthropologist pulled off the making of this film. This community and world is now documented for life for all to see. The film has played all over the world at various festivals in every Continent minus Antarctica.
“Nafkot – Yearning” is a must-see film for anyone and everyone. Bravo. 5 stars
By Eli Manning
Directed by Malka Shabtay
Watch the Audience Feedback Video from the Documentary Festival:
“Roe v Wade: A Nation Divided” is a short film, within the framework of 2022-23, that is simply gutsy. It takes an issue that is polarizing and extremely divided in the Western world and attempts to show both sides of the intensity.
In full disclosure, we contacted the owners of this website (WILDsound Corp.) about the showcase of this film at their Political Feedback Film Festival to gauge a reaction. The festival owner Matthew stated that out of over 7,000 short film screenings at their various festivals since 2007, this was the film that had the toughest time getting audiences to go on public record giving their opinions about the film. It’s an issue that people feel very strongly about and in today’s world you either are on one side or the other. Most don’t want to hear another perspective, even though it’s probably what we need to hear.
There is a segment in the first 3 minutes from the HBO show “Real Time with Bill Maher” where the host, Bill Maher, calls out the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) for tweeting that abortion harms a list of groups, including the LGBTQ community, immigrants, the disabled, to name a few, but not saying that it harms women themselves. Maher says it in his usual intelligent smug way and the filmmaker chose to edit out the laughter from the audience that occurred when that segment happened live. I remember watching this episode months back. Maher’s point was that he’s pro-choice and a liberal himself, but perhaps even the side he agrees with has also gone a bit far. I don’t know the filmmaker personally, but perhaps that’s what she’s attempting to say with this film and it’s her overall theme and point.
The film starts off with a pro-choice point of view, then veers off to the pro-choice extreme after this moment in the film, and with that a pro-life point of view. Like Maher’s show, where he consistently calls out the “woke left” and their extreme takes on wanting to cancel people from the past who don’t agree with “them”, documentarian Sarah Woodward is doing a bit of the same about the levels of extreme with the pro-choice group. This reviewer, full disclosure, believes in a woman’s right to choose as it’s her body and she can do whatever she wants with it. So even I had a bit of a bias when the film veered into talking points of what an actual abortion is from a medical standpoint. The film physically shows us the elements how an abortion is done and then what they do with the dead tissues and carcasses. It’s not for the faint of heart, which is why there is a disclaimer at the beginning of the film. These are images that are not going to leave you anytime soon.
And that is the entire point of the film. It’s easy to pick a side while you sit on the sidelines. The analogy I give is that most people will agree that it’s okay to eat meat and for populations to profit from the selling of meat by killing animals in an assembly line way. I eat steak, hamburgers, hot dogs etc…, but I’m not at the meat plant seeing these animals get killed in the violent and soul-less way they do. Perhaps if I did witness it then I wouldn’t eat the meat provided for me at the everyday grocery store, or a quick UberEats scroll and click. Perhaps I would. So by showing what actually occurs when an abortion actually takes place and what they do with the undelivered baby’s carcass, it gives people context on their issue and choice. See what you believe!
This is a film that people really don’t want to see because it forces them to be accountable for their “choice”. And perhaps that’s why it’s an important film to see. Bravo to the filmmaker.
On its surface “No Country For Dumb Man” is a slasher 4 minute comedy about a hitman who isn’t exactly the sharpest tool in the shed. Its comedic highlights are the over-the-top gross out moments of what occurs after someone dies. An over-indulgent spray of blood from a shot artery that goes all over the room. Or a literal splatter of poop going on the hitman’s face after he shoots a man while he’s on the toilet. Tone-wise you can mistake this for a simple and fun comedy romp that wants to give you “shocking” moments to entertain you and the masses. But it’s more.
When you peel away the essence, there is something profound about “No Country For Dumb Man.” The film starts with the familiar music of “Bach: Cello Suite No. 1 in G Major”, something I’m sure everyone has heard at least once in their lifetime. It gives us a tone that this is a serious hitman doing serious business. The hitman narrates his journey throughout the first 2 minutes and his encounters on the job. Then there is an audience reveal that this guy is actually not really that good at his job, and he really doesn’t give too much thought about what he’s actually doing. He’s dangerous because he has a gun, and he’s not that bright. The worst combination a person can have.
The 2nd half of the film is an encounter with a young woman. Through that we understand more of each person’s motive and a nice twist occurs. Then during the credits there is a classic “Jackie Chan-esque” sequence of the behind the scenes of how certain sequences were filmed. They pull the curtain back and let the audience in that this is a film and let’s not take it too seriously.
But I will take it seriously for a second. This is a masterclass on how to tell a story in under 5 minutes. The filmmaker gives the audience 2 different tone changes, all the while he’s giving us a comedy and making us laugh. And we are satisfied with the ending. We like to dislike the lead character and pulling that off isn’t the easiest thing to accomplish.
Bravo to Emerson College Film student Minhan Liang. He’s a filmmaker on the rise. Watch out for that name as I think he’s got some TV series or feature films in his future.
“Forever Bound,” simply said, it a pretty movie with a deep message. Does destiny determine the relationships we enter and experience? The amazing Italian nature backdrop, constant motion & action, and multiple unique and beautiful costumes attempt to answer that mystifying question. To show and make us feel instead of an attempt to tell us this impossible question!
At least that’s how I interpreted the film. “Forever Bound” can be categorized as an instrumental music video, a fashion film, or an experimental film. It’s probably all three and with this type of tone and genre. What everyone who has seen this film can agree with is that this is an incredibly engaging watch. Whatever the message or theme is, it is up to the individual viewer to interpret. And no matter, someone will get something out of it.
The heartbeat of the film is the musical score by Flavio Carlotti. It takes us down the journey of these two lovers/partners and what defines them. A third character appears as the violin player who is the observing to the transactions of this relationship. Almost like the musical character of the audience as we see what she sees.
A film that was conceived by Italian artist Elisa Messi, and directed by UK filmmaker Rob Bell, “Forever Bound” is a true collaborative film. You can’t help but also be marveled by the amazing various costumes the performers wear throughout the film, and the sculptor that was created for this film that was key to the plot.
This is a seven minute film that needs and deserves more than 1 view. There is so much richness here. Just an emotionally impactful film. 5 stars.
by Eli Manning
Creative Director/Producer: Elisa Messi
Director: Rob Bell
Composer & Producer: Flavio Carlotti
Cast: Marina Meinero, Lorena Sheriff, Jan Tononi
Sculptures: Ascanio Maria Bolzonella and Laura Fabbris.
There are many ways you can experience the Animation / Music Video “Synthetic Me.” From the first view, this is a love story between a young-adult and her childhood stuffed bear. A connection that many can relate with as most of us had our favorite toy growing up. And some of us still have kept our favorite stuffed animal into adulthood.
The other level of “Synthetic Me” is the aging process. As the young woman grows into her adulthood and becomes a doctor, she has blossomed and become the best of herself, while her stuffed animal has seen better days. The wear and tear of any stuffed animal – the color is fading, they are a bit ratty and worn out from the years of playing and being thrown around by kids. The stuffed animal wants to rejuvenate its form and make a “brand new him.”
The lyrics go: “Will someone just make a brand new me!”
It’s the stuffed animal who is singing the song we realize half-way into the viewing experience. Which is a great happy surprise.
The film’s message and themes kind of creep up on you. We all get to that point where we know the best days are behind us on a physical level, but with today’s science moving up to the point where possibly making a “brand new you” could actually happen, is this actually something we should be doing?
Of course they are centuries away from figuring out how to make a brand new “emotional,” “spiritual,” and “intellectual,” self. But the physical is something we can start doing and recreate ourselves. And that’s what the toy bear wants. To dig deeper, what is the toy bear’s motivation? Are they jealous of their friend’s progress into adulthood and want to be just like them? Are they afraid she’s going to pass them by?
So “Synthetic Me” appears to be a simple and fun animation music video for all to joy. And it is. But there is a deeper message here. And it does leave us to asking morality questions.
Terrific film on all levels. The movement never stops. It keeps you on your toes while enjoying the terrific song and stuffed animal. Wonderful.
5 stars
by Eli Manning
Directed by Susan Lim, Christina Teenz Tan, Samudra Kajal Saikia
Composer: Joi Barua
Watch the Audience Feedback Video from the Experimental Film Festival:
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