These five films were separated by discussions from filmmakers, Steve McQueen (12 Years A Slave), Shawn Christensen (Oscar winner-short film last year), Peter Webber (Girl with the Pearl Earring) and actor Matthew Modine providing insight to future filmmakers about creating short films, staying pure in your vision and most importantly telling a good story.
I will review these films in alphabetical order.
Do I Have To Take Care of Everything? is a 7 min. comedy from Finland is about a family that oversleeps and is late for a wedding and the mother feels like she has to do everything herself in order to get anything accomplished. This is a fun romp through a family's chaotic day with a great twist at the end.
Helium is a 23 min.story from Denmark about young Alfred who is terminal in a hospital and talks to Enzo, a janitor at the hospital, about a fantastical place called Helium. This movie provides a heart-warming journey traversing the treacherous waters of child illness and brings to mind the essence of the long film Patch Adams and its mission to bring peace to the patient instead of focusing on the illness.
Just Before Losing Everything is a 29 min. drama from France about Miriam and her decision to escape her fearful husband with their two children. The adage it takes a village to raise a child could be changed to it takes a community to rescue a family for this movie.
That Wasn't Me is a sobering story from Spain about a Spanish aid worker traveling to Africa with her boyfriend being confronted by child African soldiers, in particular one named Kaney and how neither of their lives are the same. This makes you appreciate the life that most Americans are fortunate to have growing up in our childhoods and not in war.
The Voorman Problem is a 13 min. story from the USA about Doctor Williams who is called in to meet with a prisoner who has an unusual affliction, he believes he is God. The Doctor must decide if he is a faker or a lunatic and wonders why God would choose to be in a straight jacket in prison. This movie brings to mind the old Twilight Zone episodes.
I give two thumbs up to all five nominees for telling interesting stories while at the same time making you laugh, cry, shutter get angry but mostly making the viewer think. I actually wouldn't mind any of these winning but the slight edge for this reviewer would have to go to a tie between Do I Have To Take Care of Everything and The Voorman Problem.
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