Short Film Movie Review

Short Film Review: VOICES OF HAKKA WOMEN. 30min. Documentary

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Wisdom behind the poetic words, rather than visuals guide the film VOICES OF HAKKA WOMEN. The introduction forces the viewer to focus on the words to impart the history and culture of the Hakka women as the short documentary delves into the unique experiences of six different women through the art of poetry in a way that is compassionate, yet understanding of the hardships that multiple generations of women went through within the Hakka culture. 

Ya-Ling Peng and Suzon Fuks went above and beyond to show the differences in the way each poem was recited, making each one unique. The filmmakers utilized various types of techniques in order to tell the stories in each piece to make them stand apart while seamlessly working as a collective. The powerful visuals aided in the storytelling process by using still photography, animation, dance and objects analyzed is explicit detail to name a few of the methods employed within the film.   

VOICES OF HAKKA WOMEN begins with a brief history of the Hakka women, a much needed segment so that all viewers can understand how women are using poetry to finally find their voice in a culture where they were oppressed for several generations. The six poems are similar while very different, with each one imparting wisdom even though the women were uneducated to prove the filmmaker’s statement at the start of the film as a strong truth, that despite the lack of a formal education, the matriarchs of their families were still quite smart. 

Stated in the fourth poem, “Going to Open-Air Theatre with Grandpa” by Mei-Yen Chen, is a theme that rings true throughout all six of the poems. She states that “poetry is healing to the soul,”  which is apparent in the passionate way each poem is recited over the complimentary visuals. The women who wrote these powerful pieces have a distinctive voice that imparts the culture in a way that is heartwarming to their culture by being able to show the memories both good and bad throughout the written word. Peng and Fuks were careful in deciding the techniques used to add unique visuals is what really makes the documentary different than other documentary shorts because they force the viewer to really focus on the importance of the words rather than showing off with fancy cinematography. They make it clear, the stories behind the poems are what is important when the images behind the words compliment rather than distract the viewer. 

Peng and Fuks did an excellent job at educating about the Hakka women and anyone who wants to learn about these remarkable women should view this film. The filmmakers seem to know best to let those who experienced the hardships of being Hakka women should be the ones to tell their own stories rather than through a secondary source. The way each poem was written and visualized is a way that will stick with the viewer for quite some time. 

By: Victoria Angelique (Olson)

Directed by Suzon Fuks, Ya-Ling Peng

Watch the Audience Feedback Video:

Short Film Review: PERISTENCE, 12min., Canada

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In the award winning short film, PERSISTENCE, there is a character named Sean. He’s an average white male in his early 30s. He likes a girl that he works with named Brooke. He’s smitten. So he attempts to court her. He tries his “charm” on her and feels that they could be really good together. After being turned down by Brooke for a date, he doesn’t let that dissuade him. He feels that eventually she’ll see the error of her ways and soon enough she’ll say yes. He is determined to get this girl. Perhaps if she’s see how much he likes her, then she will eventually like him.

This premise sounds like a lot of Hollywood romantic comedies in the last 90 years! Guy meets girl at work. Guy likes girl. Guy goes above and beyond to get girl. Eventually she says yes to a date, realizes how great a guy he is, fall in love, and live happily ever after. How many times have we watched a film like this?

  • The Notebook
  • There’s Something About Mary
  • Crazy, Stupid, Love
  • Passengers
  • Twilight
  • The Graduate
  • New York, New York
  • Love Actually
  • Say Anything
  • 50 First Dates

I just named 10 films on the top of my head without even trying. And I’m sure there are at least 50 more. Think about all of the high school films from the last 25 years. Tons of stalking is normal scenarios. And we can do another list in the 100s of the TV shows with creepy stalking.

And this is what PERSISTENCE is all about. “Normalizing” the creepy guy courting girl concept and showing things from the stalkee perspective. Bottomline, writer/director Krista Barzso is telling a story about abuse. Her character (Brooke) is having a nice first date. She’s happy and excited about the moment. Perhaps this date will lead to something more, or perhaps not. The date gets spoiled because Sean arrives with one more attempt to “get” his girl. Now he’s showing up in random public situations because he feels that’s what he needs to do to finally land Brooke.

PERSISTENCE is a perfect 12 minute short film. It tells us a scenario that we’re all familiar with and flips it on his head. And it doesn’t spoonfeed the emotions to the audience. It gives us enough so we can come up with our own conclusions. It shows the film from three unique perspectives. Sean, the abuser. Brooke, the one who is being stalked and abused. And Alex, Brooke’s date who is seeing things from the audience’s perspective – that Sean is fucked up. Sean’s not technically breaking any laws, but he’s definitely doing a criminal act.

Nicely directed by Neil Schell who balances the reactions from all three characters and gives them each a deep emotional journey and arc. Schell starts the film from the stalkers point of view as Brooke and Alex enter the coffee shop in that way a first date couple do. Happy but not totally comfortable with each other yet. Generally a normal person would see this and leave them alone. Not Sean. He’s determined!

All that said, this is Krista Barzso’s film. She wrote a terrific script, which is probably a personal story for her. She’s smart enough to make sure that it’s not just written from Brooke’s perspective as the other two male characters are fully fleshed out. Alex seems like a good guy, so this isn’t a male bashing film. Sean is just a bad apple who doesn’t know quite yet (or might not ever) that his core is rotten. I’m not giving Sean a pass for his behaviour, but perhaps his character is the micro story to the macro problem of men (and women too) getting praised for these types of actions. And it needs to stop.

Bravo Krista. We can’t wait to see what you do next. And you’re an excellent actor too!

by Eli Manning

Project Links

Watch the Audience Feedback Video:

Short Film Review: LIGHT, 5min., Sci-Fi/Experimental

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“LIGHT” is an amazing film.

First, we need to talk about HOW this film was made.

Directed by Karla Santa Anna, with the help of Midjourney (https://get.mid-journey.org/), an AI-powered program that uses state-of-the-art technology to generate images. In laymen’s terms — This is an A.I. (Artificial Intelligence) movie. And trust me, this is only the beginning. You’ll be seeing many more of these types of films in the future.

Karla Santa Anna chats about this process on the WILDsound podcast, and it’s fascinating. All you need to do is watch the film and see the amazing images that were captured with this program that fit the story and overall themes. It must be noted that Karla simply didn’t tell the A.I. to make this film, then lay back in her computer chair for a siesta. There is creative work involved. A lot of it is Karla’s specific communication with the program and then her figuring out what images created worked, didn’t work, and needed tinkering. With anything that succeeds in life there needs to be a plan in effect.

Plus, there is a terrific sound design that gives this film that extra touch of brilliance. Again, Karla uses 2023 materials and takes advantage of Moby’s music track program (https://mobygratis.com/) where he allows his music to be sampled for free to Independent, non-profit, and student filmmakers for their short films or videos. Moby’s music with a beautifully written voice over performed by Marlene Gordon takes “LIGHT” to the next level of short films.

So WHY was this film made?

In Karla Santa Anna’s words – “The world is upside down.”

And her summarization is that we all need to find the “LIGHT” in our hearts. To do the right things for the betterment of this world. Of course, that idea could sound a bit fluffy or idealistic to many. But watch this film and you will understand the message and reasoning.

“LIGHT” is a film that should be watched by everyone. Because spiritually it’s a message for the future. And creatively it’s a film of the future.

By Eli Manning

Watch the Audience Feedback Video:

Feature Film Review: NAFKOT – YEARNING, 70min., Documentary

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What is an anthropologist?

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:

Short Film Review: ROE V. WADE: A NATION DIVIDED. 9min., Documentary

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“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.

By Eli Manning

Directed by Sarah Woodward

https://www.cinesarah.com/

Watch the Audience Feedback Video from the POLITICAL Festival:

Short Film Review: NO COUNTRY FOR DUMB MAN, 4min., Comedy

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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.  

By Eli Manning

https://instagram.com/minhan4real

Directed by Minhan Liang

Produced by Tonghan Tian

Cast: Drew Carter, Amanda Li

Watch the Audience Feedback Video from the Comedy Festival:

Short Film Review: FOREVER BOUND. 7min., Experimental Fashion Film.

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“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.

Home

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Watch the Audience Feedback from the Experimental Film Festival:

Short Film Review: SYNTHETIC ME. 4min., Animation Music Video

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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:

Short Film Review: O, 10min., France, Experimental/Music

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When discussing the haunting and incredibly effective short film “O”, you first have to mention the music, as this can easily be categorized as a music video and not a narrative short film. From a French artist/band/project simply called GEROSTENKORP, this is instrumental music you can listen to anytime on Spotify or any music stream platform, as they have a large library of enticing tracks.   

This song definitely sets the narrative tone of this piece of a time & space that many are familiar with but simply don’t want to venture to again.

The great thing about films like “O” is that it’s enchanting enough from an aesthetic point of view that you really don’t have to logically understand what is taking place. You just need to take in what’s occurring and simply feel it. It’s an experimental film that is entertaining and enjoyable to watch, even if you really don’t know what’s actually happening. And that is the point of the piece. People are going to take in what they feel in context to their own life experiences. Some will think about their recent past traumas in the Covid era where we were alone and distant from any trace of existence, like the main character is. Stuck in a warehouse of emotions. Some will think of dying as the angel/devil appears to whisk you away from your loneliness. And others will simply feel the woman’s reactions to the world she’s presented with.

No matter what, “O” is a film for everyone as it’s so well made and the music is so engaging, you can’t help but watch the film throughout even though you don’t consciously know why.

The direction is top notch. Subtle and still. It lets the music sink into the soul of the viewer. The female lead is tremendous as we really feel her pain. Her eyes tell us everything we need to know. And the production design / location set up gives us that feeling of awareness, as we know of a place like this, while at the same time takes us into a unique and original world.


Bravo to the French filmmaking team of “O”. Tremendous film.

By Eli Manning

http://www.fabienlegeron.com/

https://instagram.com/fabienlegeron

At present date “O” has screened at over 20 top film festivals from around the world today.

Watch the Audience Feedback Video from the Experimental Film Festival:

Directed by Fabien Legeron

Cast: Jennifer Gothuey, Daniel Larose

Special Effects/Makeup: Ophélie Charpentier, Banshee Xuân

Score/Music: GEROSTENKORP

Short Film Review: THE ASTRONAUT. Directed by Damian Apunte

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THE ASTRONAUT is an very sweet 5 minute short film that takes us into the world and imagination of 7 year old AURA. Her hero is Ellen Ochoa, the first Hispanic women to go to space. Aura also wants to go to space one day  and she uses the Lighthouse that is close to her home as inspiration. Perhaps one day it will turn into a space shuttle, she can hop on board and fly into space.  

Besides a brief cameo by her Abuelita (grandmother), the actress Nora Harriet, who plays Aura, is the only performer in the film. Told in a narrative structure, the audience learns of Aura’s vivid imagination, and her passion for anything space. There is a strong theme of dreams & female empowerment through out and one can’t help but feel inspired themselves when watching too. How children get into things and feel love for it. Whether it’s dinosaurs, dressing up dolls, or with Aura – space. How that passion can lead to so many things. Kids use their imagination to explore their loves and find their inner selves. Many times their actions and feelings are traits that adults should do more too. We can look up to kids and they can teach us a lot. There is an innocence to that feeling Aura has, but she’s still a person with conflicts and emotions. Aura has asthma and there seems to be an absence of her parents. She’s already lived life a bit, understands that it’s not always happy and rosy. But she still has that flame to live and be the best person she can be.

What is touching about this film is that it has a timeless feel to it. We know that she loves Ellen Ochoa, who rose to prominence and fame in the early 1990s. So we assume that the film is set anytime in the last 30 years, but we do not know the exact date. There is an unique art direction in the home that gives us a feeling that this could be anytime and anywhere.

Great short film. Perfect in its length. A film for everyone with unique and original direction.  

by Eli Manning.

Winner of Unity & Inclusion Award for NASA’s International Cinespace contest and premiered at Houston Cinema Arts Festival.
Official Selection for Culver City Film Festival and Santa Monica International Film Festival.

Director Biography – Damian Apunte

As a first generation Ecuadorian raised in the Asheville, NC, Damián viewed the world in an unconventional way. His intrigue of the unique beauty in the darkness influences Damián’s aesthetic vision through his reflective storytelling. Additionally, his discovery of existentialism paired with life changing assaults shaped his compassion for the human soul. This compassion is something he strives to share with the world by making films that make you feel. His lifelong quest is to find out “who got the hooch?”

Watch the Audience FEEDBACK Video from the Fantasy/Sci-Fi Film Festival:

  • Erika Martinez – Producer
  • Taius Greenidge – Producer
  • Nora Harriet – Key Cast “Aura”
  • Ofelia Rivera – Key Cast “Abuelita “