ONLY THE BEST SHORT FILMS
Film of the Week: A(r)men by Thomas Lunde
A(r)men by Thomas Lunde (2013) (Norway) (14m)
A(R)MEN is a great dialogue-free comedy, with a story a little reminiscent of the 1986 feature film All Of Me. In A(R)MEN the introspective Arne loses his arm in an industrial accident but soon finds it growing back. His exultation turns to trepidation when he discovers the miracle arm has a life of its own, but a directness that ladies find appealing. Arne finds himself on a date with a woman from his church choir. However, his arm is a heavy partier and the night takes an unexpected turn.
The Brink by Ben Jendras (2015) (USA) (7m)
The Brink won the People's Choice award in the 10th FILMSshort competition, proving its ability to capture the imagination. Directed by American filmmaker Ben Jendras, The Brink sees a man deserted in an endless wasteland. When he sees the sun glinting off a distant object, he sets off towards it but is blocked by another survivor, who assures him he cannot overcome the massive chasm in front separating them from rescue. But who is this second man, and why is our hero here anyway? All will be revealed.
Balcony by Lendita Zeqiraj (2013) (Kosovo) (20m)
Balcony was a hit on the festival circuit, winning many awards. A black comedy, its story centres around a 10-year-old boy sitting on the edge of a 4th floor balcony and spitting at passers-by. These passers-by, worried that he might fall, call the police for help. The police have no idea what do, so call the fire service. With every passer-by stopping to have their say, the situation quickly becomes unmanageable. "It's an observation of the mindset of our society, which may quickly deviate into an absurd situation".
A Little Grey by Simon Hewitt & Steve Smith (2016) (UK) (5m)
Winner of the GRAND PRIZE and BEST ANIMATED SHORT in the FILMSshort competition, A Little Grey is a beautifully made animation that asks a simple question: is there any cure for being a little grey? One man’s search takes him through bars, churches, doctor’s surgeries, tattoo parlours and beyond, but will he find what he’s looking for? It is a colourful story about losing your spark and finding redemption.
Still Standing by Ollie Blake (2018) (UK) (2m)
Still Standing has won the BEST SHORT SHORT in the FILMSshort competition. A slightly experimental film delving into the pysche of a man who is determined to win no matter what the obstacles and the personal cost. In this non-narrative short film starring Warren Sollars a series of well-crafted visuals presents us with a boxer preparing for a fight while a voiceover informs us of the mental fortitude needed to overcome his opponent. It is a glimpse into the spirit of courage and bravery.
Breathe by James Doherty (2015) (Ireland/UK) (14m)
Breathe has won the PEOPLE'S CHOICE AWARD in the 14th FILMSshort competition. It tells the story of Patrick and Francie, a father and son in the Irish traveller community. Patrick wants his boy to be a hard, bare-knuckle boxer like him but Francie is not a macho type. Indeed, he is quite the opposite and Patrick is determined to mould him in his own image. Francie's mother wants to protect her son and loves him no matter what his sexuality but can Patrick learn to love his son the same way?
Toyland by Jochen Freydank (2007) (Germany) (13m)
The idea of another Holocaust film, even a short, is not necessarily enthralling. But you will have a lump in the back of your throat by the end of Oscar-winning Toyland (Spielzeugland). Set in 1942, and co-written with Johann Bunners, Toyland is the name a German mother invents when her son asks where his Jewish neighbours are going. An ending reminiscent of Sophie's Choice makes it all worthwhile.
Emilie Muller by Yvon Marciano (1994) (France) (20m)
I post this every couple of years as it is perhaps my favourite short film of all time, I was put onto Emilie Muller by Acim Vasic, the director of '8'. It is a confident and rewarding film: you know some kind of twist is coming but you just don't know what. Emilie is auditioning for a part in a film because her friend has pulled out of the audition. The director asks her to talk about what is inside her handbag. Marciano passed away in 2011 but this will live on for many years!
Brick Novax's Diary by Matt Piedmont (2011) (USA) (15m)
Brick Novax's Diary is a comic animation that won the Best US Fiction prize at the Sundance Film Festival in 2011. Now penniless and living in a seedy motel with only a few weeks to live, the eponymous Brick Novax records his amazing life on tape for posterity. Opening with a pastiche of Now Apocalypse, the hard-drinking American legend tells us about his life as an alien-loving astronaut, movie star, folk-musician and inventor of a once ubiquitous type of trouser (pants).
And So We Put Goldfish In... by M Nagahisa ('17) (Japan) (27m)
And So We Put Goldfish In The Pool won the Grand Jury Prize at the Sundance Film Festival. It tells the story of four teenage girls who feel trapped in their home town and, in a somewhat madcap fashion, questions the meaning of life. It is a post-modern film employing a dizzying array of different styles, but this and the girls' constant quest for fun could be seen as a counterpoint to the theme - that everything we do is essentially pointless in the end.
Love Is Blind by Dan Hodgson (2015) (UK) (6m)
Tthe comic Love Is Blind tells the story of Alice, who is about to make love to her boyfriend when her husband returns home unexpectedly. Fortunately for Alice, her husband is deaf and very slow to open doors, so she is able to conceal her boyfriend and continue conversations with both of them at the same time - signing to her husband and speaking to her boyfriend when her husband is not looking. However, with her boyfriend proving inept at getting out of the house, it is questionable whether she can maintain the subterfuge - especially when her husband reveals a surprise (and it's not a cochlea implant).
Girl + Ghost by Nik Wansbrough (2015) (Australia) (11m)
Girl + Ghost mixes animation with live action in a dialogue-free romance about a lonely ghost in love with the girl living on his street. Four years in the making, the film reveals the ghost’s fantastical daydreams, but it appears that a flirtatious postman has caught the girl’s eye and is well on his way to winning her affections. As the story unfolds the ghost must struggle to make his presence known to the girl before the postman sweeps her off her feet.
Borrowed Time by Coats & Hamou-Lhadj ('15) (USA) (6m)
Borrowed Time was nominated for an Academy Award after winning at the LA Shorts Fest in 2016. It is a beautifully made short animated Western, but perhaps a little lacking in story. It sees a man return to the scene where he lost his father, a stocky sheriff. A flashback reveals that, while being chased by a bandit, they were involved in a cliff-edge crash and he ended up being his father's last hope of rescue. Many people are taking away deep human insights from this simple tale - and the metaphorical title is an obvious cue.
