International Shorts I: Turning Points reviews
Review by on 20 Sep 2010
Showing as the first part of two screenings of world shorts, the Turning Points collection is a selection of short films with a loose theme of crisis and action. The subject matter is varied with plots featuring a lonesome motorcycle journey (PASSENGERS), a blind girl’s attempt at momentary freedom (RITA), a school girl coming to grips with her mother’s profession (VIKI FICKI), a videotape retrospective (AWAY), a claustrophobic Russian submarine (DEEPER THAN YESTERDAY) and the story of two parents and their silent child (A SILENT CHILD).
The high watermark of these shorts is Natalie Spinell’s VIKI FICKI. It follows Viki, an eleven year old girl, and the pressure between her troubled school life and her mother’s unusual profession. It is both very funny and affectionately touching. Lisa Vicari as Viki is a remarkable young actress, showing a maturity beyond her years and screen presence that is unshakeable during the often difficult subject matter.
Another highly commendable short is Jesper Klevenas’ A SILENT CHILD, a film that addresses the concealed dangers of a child that won’t cry out in pain and the baleful effects it may have. Once again, it displays another wonderful child performance and a devastatingly powerful conclusion.
The other shorts also had their merits, although both Zuniga Hidalgo’s AWAY and Samuel Fuller’s PASSENGERS felt slightly vacuous. But with the strengths of A SILENT CHILD and VIKI FICKI, INTERNATIONAL SHORTS 2: WISHFUL THINKING has a lot to live up to next week.
Liam Jack
The high watermark of these shorts is Natalie Spinell’s VIKI FICKI. It follows Viki, an eleven year old girl, and the pressure between her troubled school life and her mother’s unusual profession. It is both very funny and affectionately touching. Lisa Vicari as Viki is a remarkable young actress, showing a maturity beyond her years and screen presence that is unshakeable during the often difficult subject matter.
Another highly commendable short is Jesper Klevenas’ A SILENT CHILD, a film that addresses the concealed dangers of a child that won’t cry out in pain and the baleful effects it may have. Once again, it displays another wonderful child performance and a devastatingly powerful conclusion.
The other shorts also had their merits, although both Zuniga Hidalgo’s AWAY and Samuel Fuller’s PASSENGERS felt slightly vacuous. But with the strengths of A SILENT CHILD and VIKI FICKI, INTERNATIONAL SHORTS 2: WISHFUL THINKING has a lot to live up to next week.
Liam Jack
Film details
International Shorts I: Turning Points
SHORTS
Italy/Germany/USA/Chile/France/Australia/Sweden, 2010.
87 mins. Various with English subtitles.
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