International Shorts II: Wishful Thinking reviews
Review by on 26 Sep 2010
The last of this year’s shorts programmes, the WISHFUL THINKING theme takes us through a series of films about loss, defining life moments and especially of wanting; although it seems mostly wanting what we can’t have. Each film represents this in a different way, resulting in a mixed bag of stories that are funny, frustrating, sad, clever and shocking respectively.
CONTENDER/SKIRMISH/THE ITCH is a three-chapter allegorical tale of the origin of desire, moving from a boy entering puberty, to soldiers fighting over a woman, to a boy wanting a woman he cannot have. Set in Rome, THREE HOURS follows a father who is given three hours from prison to see his daughter, hearing of her life as they walk through the city – how she is bullied, of prospective boyfriends and of her mother’s new husband, but always unable to be a part of her life. The highlight of the piece, INCIDENT AT A BANK tells, through a single shot, a true story of a botched bank robbery taking place in broad daylight, hilariously commented on by witnesses. GISBERTA is the heart-breaking account of a boy, bullied at an orphanage, who finds an ally in one of the pretty cleaners. But, the other boys take their jealousy of his friendship to an extreme level.
A very strong set of films which displays the calibre of rising filmmakers from around the world, each film remarkable in its own way. A near-perfect conclusion to the shorts programme.
Mike Boyd
CONTENDER/SKIRMISH/THE ITCH is a three-chapter allegorical tale of the origin of desire, moving from a boy entering puberty, to soldiers fighting over a woman, to a boy wanting a woman he cannot have. Set in Rome, THREE HOURS follows a father who is given three hours from prison to see his daughter, hearing of her life as they walk through the city – how she is bullied, of prospective boyfriends and of her mother’s new husband, but always unable to be a part of her life. The highlight of the piece, INCIDENT AT A BANK tells, through a single shot, a true story of a botched bank robbery taking place in broad daylight, hilariously commented on by witnesses. GISBERTA is the heart-breaking account of a boy, bullied at an orphanage, who finds an ally in one of the pretty cleaners. But, the other boys take their jealousy of his friendship to an extreme level.
A very strong set of films which displays the calibre of rising filmmakers from around the world, each film remarkable in its own way. A near-perfect conclusion to the shorts programme.
Mike Boyd
Review by on 26 Sep 2010
where was Deaf Rock n' Roll?
Film details
International Shorts II: Wishful Thinking
SHORTS
Romania/Australia/Iran/Italy/Sweden/Germany, 2009.
88 mins. Various with English subtitles.
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