Short Films

Animated Shorts - 

Blind Vaysha - Fascinating story of a girl who sees only the past with her left eye and only the future with her right, which leaves her blind. It was an interesting metaphor until they hit you over the head with it at the end and took away the cleverness of it.

Borrowed Time - Tragic tale of a son who kills his dad while trying to save him. I felt like I could not relate to it, but it was well done.

Pear Cider and Cigarettes - This one came with a warning to have the kids leave the theatre. Sex, drugs, alcohol and bad choices lead to a young man's death. This seems to be a very personal love letter to a dead friend, so I feel bad about the fact that I didn't care at all and couldn't wait for this to be over.

Pearl - As I sit here, I'm having a hard time remembering this short. It was about a dad and daughter and their connection through a car and a guitar. It felt like it would be an interesting commercial for Apple or Subaru or Starbucks or something.

Piper - I didn't want the Disney/Pixar short to be my favorite; it makes you feel like such a corporate sell out, right? I mean animation doesn't have to be cute or for kids...it can be so many different things! But Piper blows everything else out of the water as far as I am concerned! The textures of the sand, feathers, shells and water were so intricate and realistic. It tells a succinct and sweet tale of overcoming fear and growth through stepping out of your comfort zone. Plus, the bird is super cute! Winner.

Live Action Shorts - 

Ennemis Interieurs - This one was my least favorite. It was about the French police interrogating an Algerian man who wants to apply for citizenship. He's being treated like a terrorist and asked to name names. The production design and costumes felt thin and the acting was heavy handed, making it come off less like a thoughtful drama and more like political theatre.

La Femme et la TGV - I was dozing by this part of the evening...Oscar weariness in full effect! This was a pretty decent story about a woman's love affair with the railroad that felt like it needed a little something more. I craved a greater sense of magical realism or more interesting secondary characters, but that's just me.

Silent Nights - A melancholy tale about a young Danish woman juggling her volunteer work, her drunk mother and an affair with a refugee from Ghana that she later finds out left a wife and kids at home. The message to not judge a person when you don't know their life is nicely done, but overall the ending did not feel quite satisfying to me.

Sing - This one is heartwarming! It questions the notion of whether you should sacrifice the team for the win or honor everyone for doing their best. The adult (the teacher, the old guard) wants to focus on the win, but the new generation of children feels differently. It is beautifully acted by its two principle young ladies.

Timecode - My favorite! A wonderfully odd little piece about two security guards who only see each other at shift change. Their work is dreary until they begin communicating with each other through the security footage and, of all things, dance! It is an exciting and fun film about connections with excellent control over it s tone, pacing and imagery!