Exploring a space to lament without being consumed with sadness
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Synopsis: A dancer faces a ghost of her past and has to come out victorious to find her true self once again.
Directed by: Josie Hull
Written by: Gica Pucca and Constantin Augustinus Sieve
Produced by: Diana Cody
Executive Produced by: Gica Pucca and Constantin Augustinus Sieve
Review by Victoria Angelique
The short dance film, SAUDADE, captures the attention of the audience immediately with the gorgeous cinematography that begins within the first frame. Director of Photographer, Christian Olsen, is incredibly gifted as he captures the smoke dancing across the screen and wrapping it’s way around the Female Dancer’s body. The director, Josie Hull, has the Dancer move into her memory as the smoke envelopes her body.
The tattoos on the Dancer’s body, whether intentional or real, works with the film as a way of symbolizing the ribbon that weaves her to the Male Dancer. She is fighting to escape him, but the happy memories bring her back to him. She is fighting to cut the tie so that she live happily once again now that the relationship has ended.
The score is this film is magnificent. It truly brings the film to life through going from intense notes to melancholy ones to bring the audience into the memory of the Female Dancer’s past. The music and the movements couple together to show the toxicity of the relationship, depicting how an abusive partner can keep hold of a person’s memory as she fights with herself to move on and learn to be happy once again in life. The Male Dancer has limited movements, showing his power over the Female Dancer early on in their relationship. He still haunts her mind as she struggles to reclaim her own happiness long after the relationship has ended. The Female Dancer shows her own power as she forces him from her memory.
Dance films are rarely able to capture such powerful themes in such a short timeframe. SAUDADE is successful as it captures the mental anguish that an abusive relationship can have on a victim as the Female Dancer tries to escape her memory before she figures out how to overcome it and move on with her life. It takes time, but the feeling of relief when she is able to put her memories in the past and remember what makes her happy is something that will last with viewers.
Modern day adaptation of Dickens “A Christmas Carol.” Evan Scrooge lives his life as a rich, greedy, bitter, closeted gay man, who despises the holidays. Until one Christmas Eve night, when his dead, ex-lover and business partner, Jake Marley, along with the three spirits of Christmas Present, Past, and Yet to Come, show Scrooge the errors of his ways. Leading Scrooge to open his heart and love for the holidays, as well as his sexuality.
It’s about two men seeking to find love, who spot each other, mutually attracted, but are unable to meet as one is whisked away in his cab.. Both now set on finding the other again, setting into motion a serious of comedic events.
You can sign up for the 7 day free trial at http://www.wildsound.ca (available on your streaming services and APPS). There is a DAILY film festival to watch, plus a selection of award winning films on the platform. Then it’s only $3.99 per month.
“IMPACT” is a film that tells the powerful story of two skydivers, Mark Lucchiari and Ben Lucock, and their journey to recovery after a near-fatal accident.
The documentary film, IMPACT, is a harrowing and inspirational tale when fate is intermingled with destiny. The filmmakers expertly craft the story of Ben and Lucch in a way the captures the attention of the viewer from the very first frame in a way that piques curiosity by diving straight into the full story of what led up to the accident and the steps both men had to overcome in order to enjoy skydiving without fear.
The interview style filming combined with the camera footage from the skydivers, really paints a reflective picture of who Ben and Lucch are as men in their community and home life. The way their loved ones and friends speak of them make it clear they are role models to not only their own families, but are also influential in their friends’ lives. The fact that not only is skydiving made to seem fun, but the technical aspects are discussed is a major plus as the filmmakers clearly realized not everyone who could relate to this story and enjoy it might not be skydivers.
The score helps propel the story, going from inspirational as Ben and Lucch describe their childhoods in a way that shows they were raised during a different time period that led to their sense of adventure. The music changes to invoke emotions of fear during the footage of the accident, making the audience feel for both men as if they were the ones living through and witnessing the impact. The emotions invoked as Ben reflects is coupled with the somber notes as he delves into the importance of men’s mental health, something that helps him get closer with Lucch as they bond over express their feelings and cause tears to well up in the eyes of the viewer. The fact that it took an outsider to make them speak up, really shows how men are taught to hold everything in as a way of being strong when finally telling their families and friends what was going on is the true strength.
This film, IMPACT, is truly an award winning documentary. It evokes a rollercoaster of emotions from joy to fear, with a few tears being shed before ending in a way that is inspirational by showing Ben and Lucch skydiving again after such a terrifying event. The two men were able to overcome the tragedy by bonding over something that seems taboo for men to talk about, their own mental health and for both men, it’s quite fortunate for their families and friends that they did begin talking so that Ben and Lucch could continue to lead their community.
