Reel Life : REviews

Love:  Lost and Found
Festival Coverage by Jeff

 

If you have heard that the Sundance Film Festival is superficial, don’t believe it.  This is a substantial event, and those involved are realizing that it is here to stay.  Granted the focus has changed over the years.  Once in conflict with big studios it is now embraced.  This has certainly changed the economics of “independent film”.  Maybe it has even dampened the originality of films at Sundance, but it has definitely contribute creativity to large studio offerings.

 

With that said, I spent most of my time at SlamDance.  The community involved with producing their films and festival, seems to draw me in, and inspire me to participate.  As they celebrate 10 years, the creative passion is still so alive.  As Sundance proved that alternative products are economically viable SlamDance is showing that different economics can produce.

 

The stories of filmmakers working for years on projects, which started from ideas in half remembered dreams, reassure my own hopes.  As SlamDance matures and welcomes new films from past winners, smaller festivals are lost and found.

 

NoDance and DigiDance were not to be found, but in their place (at 333 Main Street) were two new festivals.  The new festivals had two obvious similarities:  A sincerely loving community and poignant films from passionate filmmakers.  But, each had a different focus on content.

 

Damah Film Festival focused on short films with spiritual subjects (in a general, sometimes even irreverent style).  While Freedom Cinema Festival focused on Feature Films, and Freedom as their subjects.  Each was a joy to attend, and I almost felt adopted, no questions asked.

 

Back in town for a couple of days, just enough time to enjoy a little local Theatre at Boom Town (those guys are getting better), and dinner with a good friend.  Then it’s off to the Miami International Film Festival (Damn that’s a mouth full). 

 

I primarily went for the Entertainment Industry Incubator’s ‘Collaboration:  A Short Film Competition’ (with another long name).   I heard about this from the local film office, and entered the first film I helped make.  It didn’t even make the finals, but I went to see what did.  Look for a possible story in the future, in the mean time I did catch a couple films in the regular festival (See the Review of ‘EVIL’, the Oscar Nominated film from Sweden. 

 

I didn’t go to a lot of parties this year, so please excuse the lack of drunken adventures and enjoy the reviews (I missed Troma Completely).

 

Note:  NoDance has moved their festivities to California, look for them in early summer.  DigiDance could not be reached at Press Time.  Where are you?



FESTIVAL REVIEWS BY FILM:
Festival Coverage by Jeff
 

Priest – 9 minutes Color (Damah)

 

A man named Mr. Priest, is confussed with someone of the profession by the same name.  Providing the necessary, last confession of a dying man.  Very rough, but the point is made.

 

Confessions – 14 minutes Color (Damah)

 

A church janitor, has fun taking confessions, and convinces his assistant to do the same.  Its their little joke, until his young daughter confesses to the other man.  Divine comedy, in a simple mans life.

 

**Alchemy – 18 minutes Color (Damah) – Favorite at Damah

 

As a piece of erotic art, is passed from one person to the next, there is the inevitable interplay between subject and object.  Witty play on life and art.

 

Requiem – 3 minutes Charcoal Animation (SlamDance)

Director:  Roger Oda - roda92@yahoo.com

 

Sketches in motion, tell the extra ordinary story of a young girl who lost here only brother.  Suicide bombers had family too, and the “other side” of the conflict lost lives.

 

Take Out – 91 minutes Color (SlamDance)

Directors/Producers/Writers/Editors: Shih-Ching Tsou, Sean Baker - lilfilm@aol.com

 

Behind the counter and down the street, we see the life of an ‘illegal’ delivery boy in New York City.  Tons of locations and Characters, snippets of life flavored with attitude.  Moments of pure joy and sarcasm, mixed in a tragic yet hopeful tale.  Even a little philosophy and humanity in the end.  A few slow moments gave the feel of a documentary, but the story compensates in its compilation.

 

Spike and Mikes Sick and twisted Animation Festival – 60 minutes Animation (Slamdance)

Snowman – Good to see independent film, parody itself, funny and original.

My First Boner – Great ice breaker, hilarious and oh so musical (as it should be).

Another BS Adventure – Very Surreal, funny dolls, dark ending.

 

**Employee Dang – 22 minuts Color (SlamDance) – Favorite Short

Director:  Corey Fortune - izurusuga@hotmail.com

 

Great score really pushes the momentum of the story.  Strong characters, compelling subject very human.  Slow in a few moments, with asides out of the story, but this may help set the mood and develop the characters.  Takes us close to so many tragedies, but leaves us distant enough, to question objectively.  Excellent production worth while art.

 

**Shelter – 80 minutes Color (SlamDance) – Favorite at Slamdance

Director:  Benno Schoberth - Whirligigfilms@aol.com

 

Two lives are contrast, drama and conflict against the empty void.  Then the unthinkable happens, and their lives are forced together.  Great locations and cinematography of the city.  Somehow in even the most bizarre moments, humanity shows through in this film, very human and compelling.  A must see Tragedy of personal proportions.

 

**Hair High – 90 minutes Color Animation (SlamDance)  - Favorite Animation

Director:  Bill Plympton  - plymptoons@aol.com

 

Stylish animation, full of interesting characters and intelligent humor.  Reminds me of Saturday morning cartoons as a boy, and Saturday night bars as a man, somehow mixed up.  Perception is important in this experience, will you see the superficially vulgar or the deeper hidden meanings?  And, it finishes with a dark heavy yet romantic tone.

 

IPO – 100 minutes Color (SlamDance)

Director:  Daniel Gamburg - daniel@enlightenedpictures.com

 

Brilliant, broad character base.  So many lives dealing with similar problems in different ways, such intricate interpersonal relationships.  So, captures the image of the superficial and the feel of substance.  The sarcasm is so natural, poetic humorous original ending.  Note:  This film shows that an ensemble cast, with improvisation and digital technology can work (a holy grail of sorts).

 

Deliverance The Musical – 12 minutes Color (SlamDance)

Director:  David Fickas - dfickas@drama34.com

 

I have seen a gross of the irreverent and ridiculous, but rarely are such films so well produced, or the story so completely integrated.  The audience loved it, the title says the rest.

 

Death and Texas – 78 minutes Color (SlamDance)

Director:  Kevin DiNovis – stephen@neofightfilm.com

 

The mocumentary, has matured (to Cinema Verite), the sense of the ridiculous: sarcasm is so subtle it seems to be made real.  What does a good Texan do when faced with the choice of steers, queers and death?  If humor teaches, it may be in questions, and here is a great lesson.  Engaging story, beautifully portrayed by a compelling cast; simply amazing.

 

**Somewhere – 87 minutes Color (Freedom Cinema) – Best of the Freedom Cinema

Director:  Tom Whelan – bclabelle@mac.com

 

The concept may be simple, and long known.  That does not mean we have lost space for exploration, to bring hidden places into the light of perception.  Controversial subjects are covered with light heartedly, leaving room for discussion.  Amazingly Beautiful cinematography, filmed in the hills of Thialand.  A cosmic story of ones self and another, full of passion and hope.  A romance for a thoughtful mind, my favorite ever.

 

**Evil – Color Swedish with Subtitles (Miami International Film Festival) – Favorite Foreign Film

Director:  Mikael Håfström

 

Sometimes a little destruction can be a good thing.  Liberty is up held not by weakness but Strength.  “This is the last time, then no more” Says Erik Ponti (Andreas Wilson).  For those that would dominate:  Be afraid, be very afraid – of bad boys protecting good people.  Strong characters, brilliant conception, beautifully dark yet hopeful film.