It’s his birthday. After 40 years of military service, John is returned to his village and from the looks of it, will be spending his birthday alone. Dan Hammersley’s Radio focuses on John, his friend Jim, and his unwelcome companion: an ample dose of PTSD. Right off the bat, the screenplay makes it clear that… Continue reading Radio: Lots Of Thrill And Bits Of Comedy In This Friendship Drama
Tag: Short Film Reviews
New Year’s Eve: A Richly Textured Drama Exploring A Mother-Son Relationship
New Year’s Eve is brimming with unspoken turmoil. Hao Zheng’s (co-written with Leqi Vanessa Kong) drama sees a son desperately searching for approval from his mother, who, amidst chronic poverty and low status on the familial hierarchy of importance, clearly wanted something else for her son instead of the Kung Fu school he decided to… Continue reading New Year’s Eve: A Richly Textured Drama Exploring A Mother-Son Relationship
Piggy: The Dichotomy of The Bully & The Bullied
Cinematographer Rita Noriega’s lens offers the stillness of what can only be an idyllic village. The moth playfully settling down before its next flight, the fully bloomed flower glistening in the sunlight as the crickets chirp in the background – such tranquillity, untouched by the chaos outside meant to be enjoyed only by the most… Continue reading Piggy: The Dichotomy of The Bully & The Bullied
Diabla: A Rape-Revenge Drama Spiced With Witchcraft
Ashley George’s Spanish drama Diabla is an expression of rage and revenge, distilled to its barest forms. At the centre of the story is Nayeli, and through exacting her own vengeance, the film brings forth the rage of scores of women over generations. Co-written by George and Alonso Diaz-Rickards, Diabla uses witchcraft to this end,… Continue reading Diabla: A Rape-Revenge Drama Spiced With Witchcraft
Mariposa: Another Essential Look Into Why People Flee
There is something very compelling about Ron Dias’ Mariposa. At the heart of it are two young girls, still in their teens, who struggle every day in their stiflingly oppressive Cuban life. Based on a true story, the film derives its title from the protagonist, Mia ‘Mariposa’ (Yana Gold) named so by her mother, meaning… Continue reading Mariposa: Another Essential Look Into Why People Flee
Secret Men’s Business: Dirty Laundry Aired For All To See… And Enjoy?
Ignorance would have proved blissful in this instance. David Coussins’ Secret Men’s Business, a film that is basically an 8-minute long dick appendage measuring contest, is unfunny and claws at the senses with serrated, blunt knives. A man (Nick Erkelens) on a date with his girlfriend (Annapurna Sriram) serves as an uncomfortable witness to her… Continue reading Secret Men’s Business: Dirty Laundry Aired For All To See… And Enjoy?
Moon Melody: Understanding Displacement Through The Lens Of Loss
Displacement is a heavy word. As millions find themselves uprooted from the familiar and forced, by their circumstances, to find a home elsewhere, displacement, culture shock, and their ilk are not only not universal experiences, they do not always find empathy either. Amidst that, Cleto Acosta-McKillop made a queer decision with his short animation, Moon… Continue reading Moon Melody: Understanding Displacement Through The Lens Of Loss
Last Rites: The Question Of An Afterlife Discussed Tantalisingly
Ron Kanecke & Matt Johanning’s Last Rites comes with an intriguing plot: a priest — a disgraced one at that — on a quest to find a definitive answer on the existence of an afterlife. The priest, Jon, played by Joe Bearer is certain of where he’s headed in his quest, so much so that… Continue reading Last Rites: The Question Of An Afterlife Discussed Tantalisingly
Green Cobra: A Macabre Comedy So Funny That It Bends Its Genre
We hear his indignant protests first before we see him. Patrick Tamisiea, the hostage, is being dragged into a warehouse by two Russian thugs. As the thick green filter fills our screen we get the visuals and the hint – this is not going to be easy on the eyes. Director Sigurd Culhane Green Cobra… Continue reading Green Cobra: A Macabre Comedy So Funny That It Bends Its Genre
My Baby Is A Bike Helmet: A Comedy So Delightful That It Numbs Its Tragedy
My baby is a bike helmet is a surprising revelation on a topic seldom explored in films – that of pseudopregnancy, but done here, with a twist. The story of a shy, why, even a timid waitress as she attempts to escape her thorny reality by weaving a web of lies is tragic enough, but… Continue reading My Baby Is A Bike Helmet: A Comedy So Delightful That It Numbs Its Tragedy