I may have just spaced out on The Manhattan Short Film Festival in the past seeing as how this year marks its 26th annual year. Admittedly, I’m not a short movie fan, feeling the same way about music fests, and even food buffets; I’m a fidelity gal, rather absorbing a longer film, larger amount of songs by one band, tasting a bigger portion of one food. Still, the Manhattan Film Fest fest provided varied entertainment. The voting had to be done immediately following the film, hence it was a bit like speed dating. Had I been able to sleep on my choices, I may have chosen differently.
My list will be best to worst in descending order:
1. Yellow (US/Aghanistan) moved me most. I felt that the writing and plot seemed natural and spoke to the serious and uber neglected plight of women held down by the middle eastern patriarchal forces. I’m also a sucker for nuanced, unrequited romance.
2. The Stupid Boy (United Kingdom) could have been my number one pick, and did garner my best acting vote, but perhaps it was a tad overwritten.
3. The Family Circus had the most variety of entertainment; comedy, realism, drama. The plot was top notch and the score was terrific.
4. The Record (Switzerland) ‘coulda been a contender’. I LOVED the animation which was simply breathtaking. But the plot wasn’t explained enough. Otherwise, this would have been a smash hit as music and the memories associated within is a subject near and dear to my heart.
5. Career Day (USA) was super cute, plot being if an older Timberlake came back and restarted his boy band…hey wait, that’s reality. Anyway, the only detractor was the blase handling of depression and the mean wife which I can’t stand as accepted stereotype/right.
6. Tuuliki (Finland) was moving, but the beginning was so darn disturbing (again call me a wimp, but child abuse of any kind, even in a short is a trigger for me).
7. Voice Activated (Australia) I enjoyed the beginning and find technology problems perfect fodder for comedy, but stuttering is painful for me to watch. Again, I don’t even need four legs to call me Trigger (old Lone Ranger reference).
8. Soliel Du Nuit (Canada) This was meaningful in a Killers of the Flower Moon, dang have Native Americans gotten screwed kind of way, but the acting was as transparent as Apollo 7’s windows.
9. Snail (Iran) Poignant, yet I felt manipulated.
10. Sunless (USA) Perhaps this was made before the submersible implosion, but if not, ‘too soon’. I felt as empty as the dark depths to which these two sank.
Manhattan Short Film Festival Takes
