music video

Movie Review: NOVEMBER UNDER ASHES (France, Music Video)

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Played at the July 2017 Experimental Short Film Festival

NOVEMBER UNDER ASHES, 3min, France, Music Video
Directed by Camille Laloux

November under ashes is a cri du coeur, a song, an hymn in which personal and national mournings are melted, a heartbeat of fear, of strength and an ode to life. Under the ashes of a dear person and of scores of innocent people killed in Paris attacks, on the 13th of November, a young woman retraces her subway route and thoughts details which leads her to see the death by singing the life.

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

 A music video packing a strong experimental punch, NOVEMBER UNDER ASHES is a three minute French piece by Camille Laloux. With specific use of color and fantastically simple yet effective artistic style, what stands out most about this piece is the contrast between the bright upbeat tone of the song and the more darker lyrics.

A piece about life, death and mortality, the images of young adults and children in the piece soften the more ominous undertones hidden within the lyrics. Musically, this piece is Instantly catchy and visually, it jumps off the screen with color and symbology. Like any great experimental, it doesn’t spoon feed the motives of the art to the viewer.

Instead, it presents itself and leaves itself vulnerable to interpretations. Whether viewed as a music video, a musical animation, or an avant-garde short, NOVEMBER UNDER ASHES will always be an enjoyable watch.

Watch Audience FEEDBACK Video:

november_under_ashes_1

Film Review: I AM DYSLEXIC (Norway) Animation/Music Video

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Played at the December 2016 Best of Family/Animation FEEDBACK Film Festival.

I AM DYSLEXIC, 6min. UK, Animation/Music Video

The animated short film I AM DYSLEXIC expresses what it feels like to have a learning difference in our current school system. Those with learning differences should be proud of who they are and should never be made to feel alone.

REVIEW by Kierston Drier: 

A masterful piece of short cinema is a rare gem. To be truly spectacular a short must do three things exceptionally well: It must tell a compelling and engaging story, it must establish, build and deliver an emotional goal (Comedic or Dramatic) and it must be visually breathtaking. Enter I AM DYSLEXIC, directed by Mads Johan Ogaard and Katie Wyman. Majestic in its visual metaphors and brave in it’s delivery, I AM DYSLEXIC is a powerful cinematic short that provides all three of these elements. The story is remarkably simple- following the metaphorical journey of two school age children desperately trying to learn literacy through the conventional education model. Instead of following their actual progress, we see them climbing an unfathomable high mountain of books, scattered pages, text and block letters. A vibrant and powerful metaphor, strengthen in part by its simplicity. To anyone who has ever struggled with conventional education, the metaphor is disarmingly accurate. Perhaps this is what elevates the film- the abstract approach to explaining what learning can be like, for those of us who learn differently.

 

Our heroes’ deal with road block after road block, and stumble constantly. There is no easy path, and no well marked trail for their journey. And although there is no dialogue at all, there is a dramatic original musical score “I’m Not Stupid” which aids in epic atmospheric elements to this piece.

 

I AM DYSLEXIC is an emotional powerhouse of a film. Stunningly effective in its representation and utterly unique and transformative in its symbology, this is a film everyone should see. It reminds all the viewers that  unconventional learning is not a crime, and that, pun intended, there are many paths up the same mountain. Despite the difficulty, they all will lead to the top. This reviewer, (a dyslexic, as it happens) gives this film a 10.

WATCH AUDIENCE FEEDBACK VIDEO:

Film Review: LUNCH (UK) Experimental/Music Video

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Played at the November 2016 Best of Under 5 minute FEEDBACK Film Festival.

MOVIE POSTERLUNCH, 2min, UK, Experimental/Music Video
Directed by Matthew Fletcher

From the dawn of Homo Sapiens we’ve been eating it, and we will continue to eat it… until it’s redundant. Take a journey through space-time and be aware of the 3D spatially dynamic soundtrack.

REVIEW by Kierston Drier: 

This vivid, fast-paced glance at our relationship with food, is all at once social and economic commentary and a delightful visual romp at the very bread of life. The beauty of this piece, is its incredible visual simplicity- as it revolves around a plate and the various dishes that people (and animals) eat. From extravagant to simple, healthy to horrible, the dishes, and the lives attached to them are distilled in just a few seconds.

 

And yet, this film, like a chameleon, is able to be almost anything to the viewer wants it to be. It is a political and economic nod to the distribution of our resources, it is social and philosophical commentary of humanity’s’ relationship with nourishment. It has an effortless depth in its’ simple approach, but it is nevertheless a meaningful and impactful piece.

 

LUNCH has a wonderful composition: quick, impactful and effective it is not without unexpected comedy. It is fantastic piece of emotional and captivating cinema. Regardless of the impression it leaves you with- it will certainly make you hungry!

AUDIENCE FEEDBACK VIDEO of the short film:

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