The first film to discuss, "Hora di Bai" directed by: Bruno Leal. The images were amazingly sharp and crisp and still pulled you into the despair and ruin in the residents of the last shanty town on the outskirts of Lisbon. The residents featured were very passionate about the homes their families had grown up and lived in all their lives. Some of them did not know any other place. The police are coming into the shanty town and tearing down houses around and literally on top of some of the residents. One man told his story of his three story home being destroyed while he was still inside. Others were brought to tears as they came to revisit the places they were born and had raised their own kids. So, with the imminent destruction of their homes and the severing of the ties that unite them, they reflected on the uncertainty that lies ahead and the memories of a lifetime that will be left behind in the rubble.
Another film "A Certain Type Of Freedom" directed by Roman Gerodimos. This was a film that really made you aware of the narrative going on in our social or un-social lives. How our kids are targeted and pushed into this isolation and walls that make it hard to have the ability to productively interact with life and humans around us. This was a meditative essay on cities, youth and media; on how we connect with public space and with each other. Featuring original research and still photos from 20 cities, this film highlights the challenges facing urban youth and encourages us to rethink our relationship with technology. This film comes across hard to follow a strict narrative voice over with images of text that didn't follow or stay on screen long enough to be read. It wasn't till about two thirds into the film that the words on screen were quotes. It would've been better to show more of the original quote with "s around them. It was a very analytical study in filmmaking it was a straight message that you may or may not feel it was believed. We do encourage everyone to see this film and notice if it makes you want to shut your iphone, ipad, tv or fitbit watch off and talk to the real world around you.
"Hustler Of Providence" directed by Johnathan Paul. According to the program, "A documentary film that tells the story of former hustler and sex worker Rich Holcomb and his experience and escape from the streets of Providence R.I." This was a great little film, you were pulled into the connection that the director and the subject matter really portrayed on camera. You could feel the heart and emotion that Rich had as he told his story. This director clearly spent lots of time getting to know his story prior to rolling on camera. It showed how easily hurt and damaged kids get pulled into a life of drugs and sex. The long lasting damage that kids have to deal with from traumatic events that happened early in their lives. They feel there is no way out. We as a society have really dropped the ball on making sure our kids and children are safe in their own homes. Great film go see it.
The last film to discuss, "Ave Rats" directed by Chris Schlumpf. I liked this film the first time I saw it. This film is directed and produced the way you believe real life happens, fast and on the fly. We all love to see films that have hundreds of hours of pre-production and planning, but you can get real life as they happen moments when you "gorilla" filmmaking your story. One story that came out of this film was each and everyone of the "rats" wanted to come home. They wanted a place to call home. Some you saw sleeping on sidewalks, others on a box under ledge for protection. One guy said his mom was too busy with life to let him come back home. You get real first thoughts emotions anger passion and hurts. It was great to see star rat in attendance at the festival. There was a short clip at the end of the film to wrap up how he is trying to turn his life around. We all hope he is able to move his life in a positive direction. Go see this film if you are given the opportunity. And watch for future great works for this talented director.
No comments:
Post a Comment