Saturday, January 14, 2012

My Notes on Reel world film festival

Opening Night film Snow by Rohan Fernadao .
Plot: Immigrant story about coming to Canada after a natural devastating loss and having to pick up the Pieces of ones life and what the struggle one must go through to survive.
Principal cast  : Achala Hewarrachi
Himaly Fernando
Pardis Parker
Sobaz Benjamin
Alicia Orr MacDonald
Pah’s analysis  there was some make up/ tech issues but the story line was good and solid and gave the audiences a different perspective on Immigration, grief, addiction and the struggle the female lead goes through to gain acceptance in a foreign land.
snow trailer

www.snowthefilm.com




This movie is a slice of Canadian and east meets west immigration story with a tragic natural disaster thrown in.
My only quibble is make up continuity full make up while taking a shower or when in bed sleeping is not realistic less make up is better and no make up is real.

Closing night film was I will follow by Ava Dunernay  a film about cancer and death and how black community handles death.
Story about putting ones life on hold to take care of dying family members and how does one start over again with this new found freedom?
www.DVAHQ.com

Winner of Outstanding International feature  Baghdad Texas by David H. Hickey drama/comedy was well deserved award. This comedy touches on the Ironic absurdities of racism and the typical or not so typical stereotypes we all have about race relations in the USA. www.LOUDHOUSEMUSIC.com


Make A Movie Like Spike by Jamil Walker Smith, this documentary/mockumentry  self portrait had so much promise at the very beginning and then seams to lose its way near the middle and end of the film right at the climax of the film. The title is a bit misleading unless they mean early spike lee who made she’s got to have it and not the one who made miracle on st Anna street.

www.LITTLEPLOWFILMS.com  


You want to see a very raw documentary about the relationship between mothers and daughters then try and find Gang Girl  A
Mother’s  Journey to Save her daughter, by Valerie Goodloe.
This doc explores Raw truths why girls are joining gangs in America. Valarie takes you into her and her daughters life that is an emotional roller coaster in truth.  
COVERUP@ca.RR.com




Not Just A game : Power, Politics and American sports  by Jeremy Earp an interesting essay on athletes and politics mix and don’t mix, most of the references are from the past not to much from this century which begs the question is this generation of athletes all about $$ and nothing else? Plus having no Canadian references made the film a bit American centric and not including hockey on the list of sports tells me the writer of the book and filmmakers is playing into the stereo type we have about each other.
www.mediaed.org



Two Indian’s talking  by Sara McIntyre what it means to be native on reserve vs off the reserve. This movie is no Blackstone TV show but it does a nice job glossing over the big stuff. it’s like  the play waiting for Godot were the focus is on 2 of the main characters in the movie simultaneously educate aggravate and challenge each other and  our perceptions of aboriginals as well. Great precursor to get the discussion ball going on native rights.



Shorts This year were Hodge podge collection of movies that will hit any ones  fancy . Birthday by Villing Chong is about rape and short term memory  so it’s a spoiler alert. stranger in the night  very dramatic the music helps to keep the story interesting.  villingchong@yahoo.co.uk

Outstanding International short winner Dirty laundry by Stephen Abbott. Location and the exaggerated scenarios make this short stand out the fact that so many stories are told  in 15 min is amazing feet of writing. www.stealthdonkey.com


If you are into musicals then I’m in the Mood for Love by  Jason Karman  is for you it should not matter that the love interest is about two male gay couples, Love is great no matter what the package it comes in.  www.rosettaenertainment.com


Canada’s outstanding short is Savage by Lisa jackson it is the short history on Canada’s residential school system. I wanted more and can’t wait till someone does a full length of this film.  http//lisa.jackson.ca 



I saw another short that made this budding film maker jealous since I did not think of the story my self,  Subway Harmonies by Leah Cameron Don't’ you  ever wish you could jam with the subway buskers singing in the subway corridors that’s What a character does in this ingenious 8 min short. alexandermolenaar@hotmail.com 

Sven by David Randall is everything you need to learn about high-school these days and the fact that sounds of Drake AKA Aubrey Graham’s  music performance make this short quite hip.  www.bobbydelrio.com


The last of shorts is The Authority/La Autoridad by Xavi Sala international film about what would happen if you were in  driving in a foreign country and was stooped by the Police? Scary 10 min comedy. http//promofest.org

The one  form of torture for me is the Official Music video night,  11 years and still waiting for the torture to end. Only 2 video’s
sparked my interest and matched the songs Oh Canada! by Cazhmere  and 4 Tha Ghetto by Jron again directed by Cazhmere she is one talented female director can’t wait to see what  she can do with making films, move over Spike Jonze.

Reel world 2011 ended with some great emerging Canadian Talent and Tony Lee Williams  Founder and Executive Director is our hidden treasure  just like Norman Jewision and the work being done at CFC How do we get her on Canada's walk of fame?

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