Short Film Movie Review

Movie Review: ICARO (Brazil, Experimental)

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Played at the July 2017 Experimental Short Film Festival

ICARO, 11min, Brazil, Experimental
Directed by Carla Jay Shah Laroche

Based on the Greek tragedy, Icaro is a Brazilian modern adaptation of the iconic struggle; a man who seeks liberation from an environment in which he feels caged and powerless. Where myths tell us that our fate is determined by a greater force than our own, Icaro is a poetic film which illustrates how our fate is also determined by choice. Icaro must reach his own decisions on how his profession as an elevator operator will ultimately affect him, a profession which is still widely in use in Brazil. The film touches multiple aspects of Brazil’s complex society.

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

An experimental Brazilian short following one man’s journey into the sky, ICARO is a reimagined work of art inspired by the tales of Icarus, who flew to close to the sun. ICARO, our hero, is a highly intelligent man working as a lift operator, when he is transported into a world where he has no socially structured limits.

We may be looking through his day dream or his minds’ eye, but our hero is transported to an empty warehouse where his story, dream, struggle, his breaking free of social stagnation is able to be expressed through dance.

His is covered in paint (or possibly wax) and is able to act out his dreams of reaching far beyond the shackles of the modern world.

Ircaro is exquisitely shot, beautifully performed and exceptionally well composed. Balanced and perfectly cast, this is a work of experimental art that will have any film-goer looking to watch again. Well done, Carla Jay Shah Laroche, very well done.

Watch the Audience FEEDBACK Video:

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Movie Review: HOPE (Iceland, Experimental)

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Played at the July 2017 Experimental Short Film Festival

HOPE, 4min, Iceland, Experimental
Directed by Knutur Haukstein Olafsson

The apocalypse is coming. A lonely and bitter nun seeks for help to let go of her past and finally be free. The lights go out. The lights are turned on. And suddenly there is a change.

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

 HOPE is a four minute Icelandic experimental, heavy with religious symbology and musicality. It boasts an apocalyptic setting with a young nun faced with the prospect of eating a live head on a plate.

On a purely experience-only basis, this film is ripe with colors, dramatic imagery and memorably catchy music. Symbolically it is full of elaborate layers to be peeled back one by one.

Our young religious hero bitterly seeks some sort of solace for the end of the world and finds it in a singing head presented to her, yet the work ends with her defrocking and leaving the church in a bright red dress. She may be embodying the death and renewal of religion, or the passage of childhood to adulthood, or a bloody and metaphorical look at the ending of a romantic tryst.

We may never know, or the goal may be for us to form our own opinions. You’ll have to watch HOPE to find out.

Watch Audience FEEDBACK Video:

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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:

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Movie Review: BODY WITHOUT ORGANS (Experimental, USA)

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Played at the July 2017 Experimental Short Film Festival

BODY WITHOUT ORGANS, 2min, USA, Experimental
Directed by Mark Franz

Explores the mystical singularity of the body in terms of its separate functioning parts. Philosophers Gilles Deleuze and Felix Guattari use this term to refer to the “cosmic egg” of life.

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

This two minute experimental hailing from the USA is a study is abstraction, art and simplicity. Set against a neutral background, animated images of body parts, from organs to nervous systems, is built together- assembled almost, to an abstract beat. Surrealist and highly experimental, this piece does not tell you it’s intent, but asks you to project your own emotion on it.

BODY WITHOUT ORGANS will remind us that we are so much more than the sum of our parts, while still showing us that those parts alone, are incredibly complex, intricate and marvelous. A special nod must be given to the detailed design put into the concept and animation. A strong piece, with even stronger style.

Watch Audience FEEDBACK Video:

 

Under 5min. Film: I & MYSELF, 5min, Japan, Drama/Fantasy

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Played at the Under 5 Minute June 2017 Film Festival

I & MYSELF, 5min, Japan, Drama/Fantasy
Directed by Hisanori TsukudaMizuho came to Tokyo to make her dream reality but things have not been going well for her.

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

Review by Kierston Drier

This five minute Japanese Fantasy drama is a charming romp through the mind of a woman who is consistently too hard on herself. After a long day of perceived mess ups, she exits the train to find, well- herself. But a confident and charming version of herself who takes her out to sushi.

Her new familiar friend takes her out for a night on the town and along the way, she meets several more accomplished versions of herself- showing her all the possibilities she has.

What makes I AND MYSELF special is that, underneath it’s fantastical surface is a message about self love, and acceptance. The main character’s versatility and performance is nothing short of spectacular- it takes several minutes to realize they are all the same actress.

The film is not only well shot and well composed, but has a touching theme underneath it’s whimsical front. A piece about the potential and possibility in everyone, I AND MYSELF is a touching and heart piece.

Under 5min. Film: PROCLAMATION PUNCTUATION, 4min, USA, Dance/Fashion

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Played at the Under 5 Minute June 2017 Film Festival

PROCLAMATION PUNCTUATION, 4min, USA, Dance/Fashion
Directed by Sewra G. KidaneAn enthralling fashion film centered on a fabulously fascinating woman reciting a short soliloquy paying homage to her love for using exclamation points in her missives.

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

Review by Kierston Drier

This no-holes-barred larger than life experimental will test your fashion sense and your grammar. Our beautiful and fantastical heroine recites her thought-provoking monologue on grammar, punctuation and her “overuse” of exclamation points. The costume design in this work is utter artistry, and the actress’s highly stylized interpretation of the text makes this an engaging and sensual film experience.

One thing that must be noted in this piece is the incredibly apt timing. At four minutes, this piece is just enough sass and volume without being overwhelmingly “loud” from a symbolic point of view. Our heroine struts into our world, accents her thoughts with starting visuals and leaves us dazzled and satisfied. Full of attitude and sass PROCLAMATION PUNCTUATION is a fun, flirty and vibrant film.

Under 5min. Film: THE SNOWMAN’S HAT, 2min, USA, Animation

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Played at the Under 5 Minute June 2017 Film Festival

THE SNOWMAN’S HAT, 2min, USA, Animation
Directed by Jeff DraheimA stop motion snowman adventure.

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

Review by Kierston Drier

A cheerful wintry work of art, this two minute animation is a beautiful jaunt through the hardships of being snowman. Yes, our hero is a come-to-life snowman sitting in a backyard, when the wind steals his hat and lands it in a tree nearby. Despite our hero’s most handy efforts, he can’t seem to retrieve his hat, until one of his over reaching schemes takes him too far. Literally. He will take flight and meet an airplane with some unflattering results.

But does he get his hat back? That’s a question open for debate. A funny, whimsical, family-friendly piece about not sweating the small stuff, this adorable animation will delight anyone of any age. It might make you watch your own snowmen a little bit harder- just to make sure they aren’t up to something.

Under 5min. Film: MOUNT ROYAL 2017-09, 2min, Canada, Experimental

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Played at the Under 5 Minute June 2017 Film Festival

MOUNT ROYAL 2017-09, 2min, Canada, Experimental
Directed by Jeremy EliosoffA short, non-narrative montage in which scenes from Montreal’s Parc Mont Royal are transformed via custom computer software into a dreamy cascade of colourful, abstract shapes, set to a melodic, sample-based soundtrack.

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

Review by Kierston Drier

This two minute Canada experimental piece is a study of colors, sounds and recognition. It takes classic images of places in Montreal and throws them bright contrast. A true local will understand the scenes, but for anyone who has never been there, this film will be a dazzling experimental carnival ride for the eyes.

MOUNT ROYAL does an excellent job of making the audience question what they are seeing. The pictures are never in full clear focus, which means the onus is on the viewer to link the picture to the location. MOUNT ROYAL is a bright, light and delightful piece that will spark the imagination of Montreal’s locals and tourists alike.

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

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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

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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.