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Under 5min Film: WOW, 4min, France, Drama/Romance

festreviews Kierston Drier, Short Film Movie Review, Uncategorized , , , ,

Played at the Under 5 Minute June 2017 Film Festival

WOW, 4min, France, Drama/Romance
Directed by Axel d’HarcourtWOW relates the cycle of desire between two lovers. The end is the beginning. The beginning is the end.

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

Review by Kierston Drier

A visual palindrome with surprising results, WOW, a four minute piece coming out of France, will make you think. For the first two minutes of the film, we see the beginning of a couple’s’ meeting and evening encounter, and in the last two minutes, the piece is perfectly reversed- telling an shockingly different story in both versions.

Not only in WOW beautiful to look at, boasting exceptional cinematography and excellent performances, it is incredibly vivid storytelling. The audience never knows for sure, if they are seeing a metaphor of an entire relationship, the symbology of a single encounter, or a mental break someone’s mind. A piece that leaves much to talk about, it is more than worthy of watching. However you choose to interpret the work, you will leave remembering it’s brilliance.

Under 5min Film: FAMILY SHADOWS, 4min, USA, Family/Drama

festreviews Kierston Drier, Short Film Movie Review, Uncategorized , , , ,

Played at the Under 5 Minute June 2017 Film Festival

FAMILY SHADOWS, 4min, USA, Family/Drama
Directed by Laura MalatosEvery Friday night at 7 o’clock, Carter walks into the forest, and every single time, his father follows him. While wandering through the shadows, they discover what it means to be family.

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

Review by Kierston Drier

Beautiful and heartfelt, this four minutes family drama from the USA is a thoughtful meaningful look at human relationships, love and sacrifice. Poignet, deep and masterfully well composed, FAMILY SHADOWS recounts one man’s memories of his Friday evening walking adventures with his father. As a boy, he explored the woods, his father only steps behind him, ensuring his safety.

Laced through with childhood touchstones like well-loved childrens books, paper planes and board games, there is a timelessness to this piece. The cinematography, writing and performances and subtle, poetic and steeped in authenticity. WAtching FAMILY SHADOWS is to step back into childhood, and remember what unconditional safety feels like.

No film would be complete without a powerful, and FAMILY SHADOWS boasts a beautiful one. Touching and just a bit sombre, this four minute film takes childhood and adulthood full circle. Some things are worth remembering. FAMILY SHADOWS is one of them.

Under 5min: VOICING SILENCE, 3min, UK, Animation

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Played at the Under 5 Minute June 2017 Film Festival

VOICING SILENCE, 3min, UK, Animation
Directed by Lucy LeeHow do you move forward when events from a distant past continue to cast their grim shadow on the present? Can breaking the silence ever bring a much longed for quietude? Voicing Silence is one woman’s attempt to find her words that have remained muted for so long.

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

Review by Kierston Drier

A three minute piece coming out of the UK, VOICING SILENCE is an mixed media journey of an adult womans’ recount of her victimization when she was a child. Speaking out in order to heal and give strength to others, her piece is a strong and emotionally impactful one. It’s message is deep and powerful.

What makes this short unique is it’s use of animation. As our heroine recounts her events, she relives the memories in the form of an animated scene. To soften the accounts of abuse by looking through the lenses of animation helps ease both the viewer, and the reteller. It is, as the proverb goes, dipping the tip of the sphere of truth in honey. An excellent cinematic choice and giving the film a unique look, VOICING SILENCE is both powerful and beautiful to watch.

Under 5min: DATE TO THE CINEMA, 4min, USA, Romance/Drama

festreviews Kierston Drier, Short Film Movie Review, Uncategorized , , , ,

Played at the Under 5 Minute June 2017 Film Festival

DATE TO THE CINEMA, 4min, USA, Romance/Drama
Directed by Giovanni Ferrari

Share the inner thoughts of a young man at the very fist date with a woman.CLICK HERE – and see full info and more pics of the film!

Review by Kierston Drier

This 4 minute USA film follows a nervous man on first date. Our hero has the nervous-but-loveable vibe found in classic Woody Allen characters and the often-relatable habit of overthinking everything.

The charm in this films comes from its authenticity. It’s easy to believe the character’s personal concerns and anxieties as he gets ready for the date- as they are the concerns we all have- is my hair okay? Does this sweater give the right impression? Talk. Talk a lot. But not too much.

Our character also self-sabotages himself with his own concerns, making his date not actually go so well. And perhaps that’s the subtle beauty of this delightful offbeat romantic comedy. Everyone watching it knows that guy, has been that guy or has gone on a date with that guy. But this film, is about what it is like being in his own head.

Under 5min. Film: DAN, 1min, UK, Comedy

festreviews Kierston Drier, Short Film Movie Review, Uncategorized , , , ,

Played at the Under 5 Minute June 2017 Film Festival

DAN, 1min, UK, Comedy
Directed by Uzo OlehDan and Steve are identical twins that live together. Steve is fed up with being guilted into covering for Dan’s frequent “sick” days from work. So Steve decides to get himself (as Dan) fired.

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

Review by Kierston Drier

Stunningly short and still marvelously funny, this one minute UK comedy is laugh-a-minute brilliance. An twin begs his identical brother to take his place at his office job so he can have a day off. But his fed-up twin decides to wreak havoc instead. Bright, tight and witty, this piece is seamlessly efficient, colorful, fun and even sports a great twist. It has breathless pacing and delivers its comedy at lighting face speed.

Perhaps what sets this piece apart is that is is exactly the length it needs to be. True craftsmanship and professionalism can be found in a piece that knows when to stop- because it leaves you wanting more. And you will want more when you watch DAN?

Under 5min. Film: EYE OF INDIA, 3min, India, Experimental/Adventure

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Played at the Under 5 Minute June 2017 Film Festival

EYE OF INDIA, 3min, India, Experimental/Adventure
Directed by Benn BerkeleyEye of India is a visual record of a journey across India that showcases the diverse culture of one of the world’s fastest developing nations.

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

Review by Kierston Drier

EYE OF INDIA, a three minute short, is utterly breathtaking with its camera movements and captivating cinematic in its’ approach. The camera moves fluidly, giving us an almost fly-on-the-wall feeling as we zoom in high contract through the back alleys, bright streets and varying textures and colors of India.

An experimental exploration of the inner workings of a country with a rich history and vibrant culture- EYE OF INDIA is nothing short of dazzling.

From the first image to the last you will be engulfed in picture, color and sound. A film where you fear to blink, for missing a stunning shot or frame. Special attention must be paid to the camera, the editing and the director of photography. This film might be the visual expression of India itself, a feast for your sense.

Under 5min. Film: LAST CHANCE, 3min, Hungary, Drama/Sport

festreviews Kierston Drier, Short Film Movie Review, Uncategorized , , , ,

Played at the Under 5 Minute June 2017 Film Festival

LAST CHANCE, 3min, Hungary, Drama/Sport
Directed by Daniel FuzesWhat if you are a boxer, but you can’t fight back?

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

Review by Kierston Drier

LAST CHANCE a three minute Hungarian drama, is a short that leaves you with philosophical questions lingering underneath it’s straight forward story. A boxer training for the professional world keeps getting into street fights- and he needs to stop, or he’ll lose his chance to advance in this field. But intercut with his boxing in the ring, is a fight in the street where he doesn’t punch back- and ends getting beaten up instead.

What is this piece trying to tell us? Is our character the victim of vicious attackers, or is there some long standing physical back-and-forth between this man and his assailants.

Beautifully shot and vividly cinematic, LAST CHANCE is a visual metaphor about picking your battles. It delivers to the very last frame.

Under 5min. Film: BLURRY, 5min, USA, Thriller/Mystery

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Played at the Under 5 Minute June 2017 Film Festival

BLURRY, 5min, USA, Thriller/Mystery
Directed by Jake HonerA young man cannot see his demise.

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

Review by Kierston Drier

Blurry is scary short cinema at it’s best, because it employs the super effective trick of never being able to see the villain. Literally. This American short follows a young man getting ready for bed in the early hours of the morning (He stays up late). When he takes his glasses off and puts his phone down and goes to brush his teeth, he realizes both have been taken upon his return. Unable to see what’s going on, he quickly figures out someone, or something is in his house with him.

Movies like the iconic Jaws and the suspense thriller The Fourth Kind are famous for employing the “never-see-your-villain” tactic, and it is psychologically brilliant. The scariest thing possible isn’t what the film can dream up- it is what the audience can dream up. The demon you can’t see will always out scare the demon you can see. In BLURRY, this is taken to a terrifying new extreme. Wwe see things from our hero’s point of view and thus sympathize with him more. On top of that, we get an incredible amount of emotional response from understanding his handicap. It is one thing to go against a threatening unknowable foe- it is another to do it handicapped.

Congratulations to BLURRY, it takes to a new level, and for that, make this simple short film terrifying and complex.

Under 5min. Film: MORE THAN LOVE, 3min, USA, Drama/Romance

festreviews Kierston Drier, Short Film Movie Review, Uncategorized , , ,

Played at the Under 5 Minute June 2017 Film Festival

MORE THAN LOVE, 3min, USA, Drama/Romance
Directed by Mitchel ViernesA woman sits on a beach one night and reminisces about her life. Amidst the nostalgia, she struggles with the more traumatic memories of her past, and considers the prospects of opening herself up to newfound love.

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

Review by Kierston Drier

There is an adage that when a man dies a library burns. And MORE THAN LOVE plays on that notion of a the depth of a life’s complexity from a different angle. It attempts to show a life’s story in just few moments.

A woman, sitting on the beach, recounts her life- in moments both good and bad, leading her up to this point. Falling in love, falling out of love, having children, loving her life, and being terrified within it. In only a few short minutes we are taken on an emotional roller-coaster of flashbacks through the triumphs and adversities of a human being. We hold our breath for her. This is a piece that reminds us that our destination is all the sweeter, for having had the journey.

Under 5min. Film: MISSION: APO11O, 4min, France, History/Comedy

festreviews Kierston Drier, Short Film Movie Review, Uncategorized , , , ,

Played at the Under 5 Minute June 2017 Film Festival

MISSION: APO11O, 4min, France, History/Comedy
Directed by Daniel JennyThree men are flying to the moon, one of them should have stayed home….

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

Review by Kierston Drier

This four minute film takes it time setting itself up. But it reminds us that some twists are worth waiting for. This slender cinematic feat, hailing from France, is only 4 minutes long, but it will nicely tie history into a punchline and wrap it up with a bow.

MISSION APOLLO is a fun little film because it will show us the personal inversion of a well known historical event. Set against the backdrop of a few men get ready to jump into outer space, an out-of-this-world love story is about to take off. Cute, quick and funny, MISSION APOLLO is delightful.