Yet again, I find myself at another film festival. This time it's in the heat of the desert at the Palm Springs International Short Film Festival. I attended this festival for the first time last year, but was only there for one day. This year, I'm here for more than that so I can see many more films. Here are my highlights:
Emergency, directed by Carey Williams
A group of black and Latino college-aged men come back to their house to find a girl nobody knows lying on the floor unconscious. Is she high? Is she drunk? Did she overdose? It isn't clear exactly what happened to this young woman, but they know they have to do something about her. Do they call the police? One says yes, the other thinks they need to handle it themselves. They debate back and forth, and even bring in some other friends to figure out what they should do. They know the risks involved with calling the police. One of these young men knows exactly what happens to some unarmed black men and is afraid the same might happen to him. The other thinks that nothing is going to happen and the young woman will be taken care of. So, after some debate, they decide calling the police is the right thing to do, but decide to make the best impression they can so they are not suspected of causing the young woman harm. This film is an interesting commentary on the lives of African Americans in this country who don't have a great relationship with the police in their communities. They weigh the pros and cons of calling for help, and while they are afraid for their own lives, the life of this young woman hangs in the balance. Emergency is a fascinating film that, while it has its comedic moments, the director insists it is not a comedy. It is thrilling and dramatic at the same time as we watch to see what these guys might do.
Mobile (Mobil), directed by Truls Krane Meby
Whalid is a young refugee from Syria who lives currently in Norway. He waits by his phone nervously about news of his family who is trying to escape the war torn country and get into Europe. They appear to have a deal with a smuggler who will be able to get them as far as Hungary, but the deal they had appears to have changed. They can no longer afford the price the smuggler wants. The smuggler realizes getting the rest of his family all the way to Norway will be a more difficult task than getting them to Hungary. Whalid is on the phone with members of his family or the smuggler for the whole duration of the film. He hears his mother talk about how because of the price change, they will have to continue on foot, something Whalid does not want them to do unless absolutely necessary. Unfortunately, by the end of the film, it is absolutely necessary, and we see Whalid come to terms with this. Although the film's only character is Whalid, we see how he comes to terms with the potential fate of his entire family should they fail to make it out of the country and into Europe. The film puts a personal touch on an issue facing many countries in Europe today, and more importantly, the people trying to flee their war-ravaged homelands.
Trapeze, U.S.A., directed by Mark Anthony Green
This was the longest film I saw at the festival, with a run time of 33 minutes, but it was one of the most interesting and entertaining films I saw. Orenthal James (yes that is this character's real name, played by the wildly entertaining Rance Nix) is trying to get to a meeting for work on time. Seems simple enough, especially to people who have spent any time living in New York ever. That's all he's trying to do. But everything that can go wrong, does go wrong. It's like Murphy's law; first the subway doesn't work right, then a cab is too expensive, but too far to walk, so he'll do anything to get to work on time so he can make this meeting. This film takes a lot of sidetracks, making the viewer feel somewhat lost at times, but for good reason. These distractions often involve characters engaging in deeply political and philosophical discussions surrounding the world today. One conversation between two characters deals with veganism, while another one deals with respecting women after one character catcalls a woman on the street. The film is shot on 35mm instead of digital, making for a unique visual experience at this festival. It's colorful, exciting, and just a whole lot of fun, especially to those of us who have spent some time in New York and have experienced the various modes of transportation failing. One of the things that intrigued me about this film was something that director Mark Anthony Green mentioned in the Q&A after the film. He has no intention of expanding the film, and feels that if a good story can be told in 30-35 minutes, then it should be at that length. This is also his first film, he mentioned. It is incredibly well done, and I would not have known for a second that it was his first film had he not mentioned it.
The President's Visit, directed by Cyril Aris
This is a story about a man who runs a soap shop in a small coastal town in Lebanon. He makes some of the best soaps in the country and his products are often in high demand, especially from the fishermen of the town. One day he gets a phone call that changes his life. The President of Lebanon has chosen to visit his small shop to see about his soaps. He is told to tell nobody the President is coming to visit, for a variety of reasons. But this is a small town, so naturally, everybody finds out and makes a huge deal of the visit. While he is trying to figure out how news has spread, he must also prepare for the presidential visit. This film is a witty, fast paced, comedy that shows what living in a small town (really in any country) can be like. The President's Visit is a film that is sure to get the theater laughing.
The Beaning, directed by Sean McCoy
Any fans of experimental film? Any sports fans? Documentary fans? This is the film for you! The Beaning tells the story of Ray Chapman, a baseball player for the Cleveland Indians who was hit by a pitch from New York Yankees pitcher Carl Mays (and later died), and the rise of the Yankees dynasty in baseball. The film combines aspects of documentary storytelling, as well as experimental, dream-like story telling, to create this near horror film. I can honestly say, and I mean this in a positive way as the film is very well done; I have never felt more creeped out by baseball. While I consider myself a fan of baseball and its history, this is a story I learned about through this film. It does a great job teaching people about this film, while also creating a psychologically thrilling story that is sure to leave a lasting impression long after audiences see the film.
Shadow Animals, directed by Jerry Carlsson
In a block of experimental shorts, this film perhaps feels the most normal. Marall is a young girl who is invited to a party with her parents one night at their friend's house. At first the party seems normal, but Marall begins to notice things that are strange. She is well behaved at the party, but as the night goes on, the behavior of the adults changes. It's no longer just socializing and eating, but odd dances and traditions, straight out of a weird cult. Shadows begin to appear and she is increasingly creeped out by what she is seeing. The worst part, everyone else seems to think that everything is fine and normal, but to Marall is is clearly not. Shadow Animals reminds us of when our parents took us to various functions we did not want to be at when we were young. It reminds us of the awkwardness many of us have experienced in these situations, and sometimes feeling lost; in desperate desire to leave. The story is told solely through the perspective of the young girl, through the eyes of innocence. It is sure to give viewers a thrill!
August Sun, directed by Franco Volpi
Taking care of aging parents is difficult, and only made more difficult when one has a family of his/her own to take care of as well. This is the story of August Sun, where the main character, Javier, must do just that. He returns to his home town of Buenos Aires in Argentina to care for his aging and increasingly unhealthy mother, even though he lives in Vienna with his wife. Javier is engaged in legal issues with his mother's insurance company, as it makes it difficult for her to receive the proper medication she needs to stay healthy. This is a scenario all too familiar to those of us who live in the United States, but as August Sun shows us, it is not only in the United States where these situations happen. Javier tries to enlist the help of his sister, but she refuses, putting all the pressure to care for their mother on him. This film showcases a truly selfless character. He doesn't take a moment to figure out what will be best for him, but rather, the people around him; on one hand, the life he has built in Europe, and on the other, doing what is right for his mother. August Sun is the kind of film that makes people appreciate family, and how sometimes, people are willing to do everything that is necessary to care for their family. It was among the most powerful of films I saw at this festival.
Acide, directed by Just Philippot
The Thrills and Chills block was a block meant to be experienced. Especially this film. Acide opens up with a shot of a stuffed teddy bear lying on the side of the road as traffic goes by. It begins to rain, and as it does, traffic slows down and people run out of their vehicles and scream with increasing intensity. As the screams get louder, the teddy bear begins to melt away. It becomes clear that the rain has become so acidic that is lethal and melts everything in its path. The film, after this scene, focuses on a family trying to escape the acid rain. Running as fast as they can, and begging anyone they can find for help, Acide is 18 minutes of absolute terror. Will they find a place to hide before the rain starts? Will they make it out alive? Sadly, not all of them will. It is not clear how the rain becomes so acidic, but that's okay because the film is so thrilling that you can't really focus on that fact until the film is over. It exemplifies the theme of Thrills and Chills better than perhaps any of the other films that were screened in this block.
Two Puddles, directed by Timothy Keeling
This film was also screened in the Thrills and Chills block, and made its world premiere at this festival. A family is hiking through a park one day, when they encounter two mysterious puddles. One person falls in, another person comes up. So, the daughter falls in, and the father goes in to save her, but she comes up without him. She goes back in to find him, but he comes up instead. It goes on like this for a few minutes, until a jogger comes by and falls in herself. After that happens, the family is finally reunited after moments of terror with this puddle. The mother reacts differently each time someone falls into the puddle, signifying there are some hidden tensions within this family. The story might seem a little ridiculous on the surface, but the film has its comedic moments and is a very entertaining six minutes. This was a fun film to break up some of the tension already built in the screening block.
Beneath the Ink, directed by Cy Dodson
This short documentary follows a tattoo artist in rural Ohio named Billy Joe White. He's not just any tattoo artist however. He spends much of his time covering up people's past tattoos, mainly of things of hatred. He covers up things on people's bodies like swastikas and other symbols of hatred, usually white supremacy. The people who come to him often feel that they made mistakes earlier in life and look for a chance to close that chapter in their lives. It's not always clear what happened to get these people to change, but it is heartening to hear their stories of what they have dealt with and overcome over the course of their lives. This is a story of redemption for people and shows how they can change. It is a film that shows just how much times are changing in this particular part of the country.
Souls of Totality, directed by Richard Raymond
"The Souls of Totality have exited this plane" a sign reads as a young woman leaves a small religious compound. She has been chosen to stay behind, to remain on earth when everyone else in the compound believes their souls will be taken to heaven during a total solar eclipse. She is the only one chosen to stay behind, but she has a secret. She and another member are in love. Realizing that she must let him go in this rapture-like event, she is deeply saddened. He is sad to leave her as well, but he has not been chosen to stay, so he must unfortunately go with the rest of the group, to the next plane of existence. As the eclipse nears, they must prepare for their eventual separation, and for the future. At the last moment, he decides to disregard his duties to the group and stay behind with her. Souls of Totality was perhaps my favorite film of the festival. It features the best mis en scene of any film in the festival as well. There is one scene in particular that was shot during last year's total solar eclipse that went all across the United States. It was a truly awesome shot to cap a wonderful film. The story is captivating and inspiring, and leaves much up to the imagination of audiences. Director Richard Raymond told me that they only had a few weeks to prepare for the film because they had to get that one particular shot exactly right, or it wouldn't have worked at all. Talk about a once in a lifetime shot! It is sure to have a lasting impact on audiences.
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