Movie reviews

CINEMAFORUM

1 UKRAINIAN SHORT FILM

У ПОЛІ (IN THE FIELD)

Recommended. A seemingly simple story which holds a few surprises. In a war setting which is spine-tingling in its own right.

OBERHAUSEN INTERNATIONAL SHORT FILM FESTIVAL RETROSPECTIVE

HOMESICK

Watchable. Talking about the pandemic lockdown using lines from end-time movies is a fascinating idea but here it's filmed theatre which is visible in overdone make-up, stage-like set decoration, chorus repetitions of quotes and the manner of speaking facing directly the viewer. Not much of a film.

WEATHERING HEIGHTS

Walked out. Poorly shot, with no extra light, ordinary countryside life and naked children - gross.

1 INTERNATIONAL FILM

TRIA

Walked out. First you're informed of a law by which once four children are born one of them has to be killed with girls going first - no justification or explanation of this peculiar set-up. Then the girls date boys and dance as if nothing was going to happen - ludicrous.

BAFTA 2022

DO NOT FEED THE PIGEONS

Watchable. Doll animation with flat pieces of fabric as people. Little of a story and it's ambiguous. On the other hand, artsy and with a profound message.

THREE MEETINGS OF THE EXTRAORDINARY COMMITTEE

Watchable. Black and white, artsy, smart though overtalked, with a profound message, but a disappointing finale. Leaves you sympathetic yet frustrated by the ending.

NIGHT OF THE LIVING DREAD

Watchable. Artsy, with a profound message, wise psychologically but disturbing. The dolls move in a natural way.

FEMME

Watchable. An engaging gangster flick with a trans person central to the plot and with a profound message.

STUFFED AND Q&A WITH DIRECTOR THEO RHYS AND COMPOSER JOSS HOLDEN-REA

Watchable. As if the macabre idea of taxidermizing a human wasn't crazy enough, it's a musical. The film's artsy, with a profound message.

"Everyone in the UK hates musicals. Apart from us". They're perceived as tacky. Their idea is that people sing when they can't express themselves. Also "love transcends normal talking." "Sweeney Todd", "A Little Shop of Horrors" inspired it. A musical on stage is incredibly expensive so many are never made. The actor only existed in a local theatre, the woman lead was found on a casting website. They like diegetic musicals - the story from within, this one is  not diegetic because you see the source of music. The actor felt uneasy dragged across the floor and stripped naked in front of 21 people. True fact: a German cannibal posted an ad for someone who wanted to be eaten - the Cannibal Gate was a fetishist site but it was serious for him. "Once you take away the macabre and horrendousness of the story, they fulfill each others' needs (...) That was the starting point." The house was abandoned for 13 years so it was petrifying for the crew to enter, cobwebs etc. Health and safety-wise it was scary too - they could be put in jail for it.

FINAL CEREMONY

The award ceremony was hilarious, with great music and an Oscar-like form, even with some tears of joy .

MUSIC VIDEOS

With such a fantastic selection of short films from all over the world, why are all music videos Polish (or Ukrainian), mostly poor visually and always pathetic musically?! And screened with a delay.

The whole festival offered plenty of quality short films from all over, the interpreter at Q&As was excellent, the catalogue comprehensive but the schedules, both in print and online, weren't chronological. The festival director himself seemed to lack organizational knowledge so it was hard to obtain info. It doesn't change the fact I'm looking forward to the next edition.

ROOM 203

Watchable. The movie, based on the book "Room 203" by Nanami Kamon's novel, purports to have been shot in a truly haunted house. I felt like switching it off before even the opening credits - the boy's nicking a necklace from the building only to give it to his crush was silly and the freaky suicide looked awfully tacky. The main plot though, of two female students, both likeable, is pleasant. You feel sympathetic something is bound to happen to them. Frequent mentions of dying or getting killed seriously or in jest are fun anticipation for the viewer. The second half is creepy, though not exactly horrifying. The landlord character is masterfully played by Scott Gremillion. Ian, Kim's boyfriend, by Eric Wiegand is a truly nice guy. Francesca Xuereb as Kim and Viktoria Vinyarska as Izzy manifest sisterhood. The finale leaves a sequel potential.

Available on online platforms.