FAIF International Film Festival

By Rowan Harrison

Spread over four days this annual event with a series of film shorts and feature films the FAIF film festival or Indie Fest USA was held in all places……..downtown Disney.  Which is a bit of an odd place for a film festival, you know with all the Mickey Mouses, Peter Pans, Snow Whites and tourist milling about, especially since Disney has currently banned all Heavy Metal musical acts from the famed House of Blues, oh the shame.  Yet amongst the overpriced restaurants, bars and souvenir kiosks, sits the AMC Theatre, which became the venue for this year’s smorgasbord of independent gems.

The festival ran from October 29 thru Nov 1; however during the course of the four day event yours truly was only able to catch four of the main feature films.  It would have been actually five, but because the festival was running two hours behind on its second day, it just threw the whole evenings agenda out of whack.  So with that in mind, I sat through films that covered a wide range of topics and genres and here is how they ran. 

East of Euclid

Written and Directed by Jeff Solylo

A crazed Russian Gambler, an eye camera that pops out of its socket, head cheese used as a crystal ball and a hockey player beaten up by sausage, are the ingredients to this rather quaint comedy film noir by Jeff Solylo

In the snowy cardboard dark town of Winnipeg, on the isolated foreboding street of Euclid sits a dark warehouse.  Villosh (Michael O’ Sullivan) and his henchmen sit around a table, like a group of thugs, smoking, drinking and gambling the night away. 

The heavy set Russian Vilosh, with his deep Russian accent has profited off the misfortunes of his always challenging competitors.  A natural born gambler Villosh, has acquired a reputation of never losing, and is always challenging local townsfolk, even for the most mundane, common everyday items, such as groceries.  Yet in all his successful endeavors, Villosh has one unfulfilled dream of going to Atlantic City, NJ the gambling mecca of the east coast.  This venture will require a great deal of capital, ironically Villosh doesn’t have the resources to carry out his dream. 

This is where all the high jinks begin to develop, seeking out his fortune with a local fortune teller who uses a head cheese as a crystal ball, interesting. Villosh is given a picture of successful winnings in Atlantic City, but he must act immediately, because there is also something dark in his immediate future.  In his desperation he concocts a scheme of kidnapping a local high profile hockey player, and holds him for ransom, why he doesn’t gamble his way to Atlantic City is beyond me. 

Our story is narrated, through Natalia played by Daina Leitold, who is breaking the scandalous story as a newspaper reporter at the local tribune. Together with her romantically involved colleague and award winning photographer Valeri (Brent Neale) they both get themselves involved in the cold and snowy world of Villosh as they cover the story.  Especially Valeri, who through a series of events, is roughed up by Villosh and his accomplices and his right eye is replaced by a camera eye that pops out of its socket when the film is ready to be developed, very clever and odd.

“East of Euclid” well for the most part is a humorous almost absurd story of unfulfilled dreams, romantic affairs, greed, revenge, and the inability to be brave.  The film is in a black and white format, and at times seems to be out of focus, there is feeling of a 1930’s or 40’s quality about it, which pays homage to the film noir genre of its time.  

There is a wonderful cast of amusing characters that permeates in and out of the story, which is one of its strong points of the film.  Although the narration is a bit dry and the acting at times seems contrived, you seem to forget about that.  Because as a whole, the plot goes off into so many different directions, it brings out some almost unreasonable, unusual situations, and characters that are entertaining.  I especially enjoyed the bit, where one of Villosh’s henchmen commits suicide by placing himself of the conveyer belt, to be drowned and wrapped in a pastry, amusing.  

The Journey

Written and Directed by Scott Marcano

Here is one of those almost predictable love stories of self discovery and adventure, as a young man goes after the love of his life.  The Journey for the most part has a good premise, and it takes us into the multi-cultural and mythical land that is south of the border.  However unlike its predecessors “Y Tu Mama Tambien” or “The Motorcycle Diaries” The Journey doesn’t quite take advantage of its unique surroundings.

Steve (Andres Londono), is a young good looking, athletic, and artistic guy, who strums and doodles his time away playing video games and working at his local department store.  Rona is his intelligent and beautiful girlfriend, on the surface they seem to be a normal couple, living normal young lives, but as in most relationships there is always one that seeks something more ambitious in life.  In this case, as with most, it’s the female counterpart, who wants to pursue her archeological studies in Guadalajara, Mexico.  She tries to persuade Steve in joining her, but of course he is reluctant being comfortable where he is at maintaining his “big responsibilities at Target.”

Steve really doesn’t believe that his girlfriend is leaving, and his girlfriend really doesn’t believe that Steve is truly in love with her.  Of course she leaves, and Steve is left alone and is reminded by his friend of “a once in a lifetime opportunity he let go.”

Several weeks go by and Steve is moping around feeling sorry for himself, he tries to enlighten his spirits, by hooking up with some of his previous girlfriends.  All have their funny issues and they don’t quite live up to the genuine persona of Rona.  Seeking advice from a mentor he finally realizes that he let the love of his life slip away.  So like any other romantic and with unbridled enthusiasm he packs up his car and heads south.

Naturally with any road trip, adversities are sure to arise: he gets into an accident, cannot speak the language, is robbed left with nothing, seeks help from his dad, who thinks his pursuit is asinine, and when he finally arrives in Guadalajara he finds out that Rona left to Veracruz with her assumed new boyfriend.  

“The Journey” is in many ways a romantic comedy, a road adventure that has the ability to let us see the grandeur that is Mexico. A photographers film indeed, but doesn’t quite capture that artistic aspect or the rural countryside, like so many films within this genre do.

However “The Journey” does touch on some important cultural elements, the people of Mexico and its rich cultural background embedded in Aztec Mayan civilizations.  Steve, who by the way is a descendent from Spain, challenges his protagonist that understanding a culture is not so much an academic or pedantic pursuit.  Which he eloquently addresses, and the manor in which all this happens, if you happen to see the film and understand the character of Steve, it is so out of left field. 

However is it? Steve is so Americanized and at times is naïve, yet through his adventures he does acquire some worldly wisdom.  Whether it be from his brief sojourn with an American brothel owner, the family that cared for him after his accident or the vision of Aztec ritual dancers, sadly this gets somewhat diluted in its very cliché plot and ending.  Yet “The Journey” is a film that is indicative of getting in touch with your cultural roots, even if it’s a root that stems from the seed of love.  Oh. another note Mr. Marcano, does leave random metaphors throughout the film, using a black raven and a sketch book.  Metaphors and imagery that is so much apart of Mexican art and folklore.

Back Soon

Written and Directed By Rob William

Logan has just put up his beautiful 3 bedroom suburban home built in 1927, with a jacuzzi, pool and all the amenities up for sale.  Now never have owned a home, therefore never have sold a home, I would think that I would have been elated when the first prospect arrives ready to buy.  Yet this is not the case for Login, for the circumstances in putting his home on the market, is one of heart wrenching melancholy. 

Beginning with a quote from T.S. Elliot “Back Soon” deals in a very emotional, psychological and metaphysical assumptions.  It is a melodramatic piece that touches on the notion, of life after death experiences, a love that can come back in ways that you never thought could possibly happen.

Login (Windham Beckham), is a struggling young actor who is trying to cope with the loss of his wife, Adrian, wanting to start his life over he decides to sell their home.  Gill is a single young guy, who immediately responds to Login and the house.

From the get go we get a good sense that Gil has some other intentions in mind when acquiring the home.  Yet Gil and Login maintain and carry out a good rapport with one another, this creates disapproval and concern among Adrian’s brother, Spencer, who is immediately hostile and racist towards Gil.  It is a discernment that is not provoked by suspicious criminal intent, but by something much more, deeper. 

As the days past Login and Gil hang out more frequently and it’s during this time that Login notices certain peculiarities about Gil, such as the way he uses ketchup and mustard as a dipping sauce, the way he organizes his kitchen, little things that remind him of his wife, Adrian. 

At the same time visions of Adrian keep appearing in Gils sleep and he has discussions with her about the state of his current condition and the struggle to move on.  Adrian, like a wise ghost from the past counsels Login to focus on the present

During one of these apparitions the course of their relationship changes, as she leads Login into Gil’s bedroom, immediately they accept what is happening and embrace each other.  The following morning they are left coping and denying what has happened, this also acts as a pandora’s box with serious revelations about their sexual identity, and the hauntingly mysterious connection between Gil and Adrian. 

It’s a well conceived original storyline that has all the ingredients of some serious melodrama and character depth.  Yet there seems to be certain areas within the film that seem to hinder its potential.  One is the acting, the actors seem to be doing their parts, without any real raw emotion or expressive gesture.   Also there are some scenes with the supporting characters that could have been tighten downed, some of it seemed trivial, almost condescending.

For the most part “Back Soon” in many ways is a bit of a mystery, that dibble dabbles in the area of the after life, reincarnation and how previous lives can bring people together in the present.  Yet at the same time it also deals with the suppressed sexual identity that many have, and the unorthodox measures taken in opening up those feelings and emotions.  “Back Soon” hits on many different social issues, but its most potent message is “how we live our lives creating these perfect little boxes, but what happens when we can’t live in these perfect boxes when things change.”  

Loop

Written and Directed by Pericles Lewnes

Working for a three year period with close friends and associates, financed and produced by his wife Lisa DeLucia Lewnes, Mr. Lewnes has concocted a primal scream into the vortex of the subconscious, a delusional kaleidoscope in circular thinking.  Loop I must say was a very bizarre endeavor, an almost pretentious minimalist avante garde piece of film making, and it was definitely beneficial to have Mr. Lewnes present to explain some of the movies messages and content.

To the best of our ability let’s try to recant the plot, Joseph List played by Pericles Lewnes himself, sits in his chair with a glazed disposition.  The mind is off in some orb, a contemplative state sets in “modern thinking is performance art” “déjà vu, do you know yourself really” “personality meet discussion employ character” this is someone who is slowly descending into the abyss of insanity. 

The coffee table is strewn with magazines and periodicals relating to the current events in the Middle East.  “Decay of the Angels” “Temple of Dawn” “Runaway Horses” books by Yukio Mishima, take up most of the space on the table.  In one part of the room a metronome goes back and forth, in and out of time, tick, tock, tick, tock, tick tock tick tock.  Meanwhile rats scurry amongst themselves in a box that sits in another part of the room, a metaphorical exercise of thinking out of the box. 

So far the film has this sort of creepy paranoia eeriness to it, this is even made more palpable when a young paraplegic women confined to a wheel chair enters the room.  She appears to be one of those devilish side characters you would find in those David Lynch films.  She says something, but it’s not registering to Joseph, because he is in deep dialogue with his alter ego.

Fueled on array of psychological meds, he tries to emerge into the outside world, only to be sucked more deep into the maelstrom of insanity.  As he descends down into the basement he enters a world where his super ego and his subconscious will wage a war on his total existence.

I liken this piece of work to Edvard Munch’s The Scream, a dizzy array of fear, isolation and existential angst, all composed within a kaleidoscope of bleeding colors.  This was a tough film to sit through, and at times I sat wondering is this really working? Or is this some man’s paranoid manifestation of a life out of balance, or did someone put something in my drink?

There is a good dose of motifs and metaphors that run through out the film: the box full of mice, glass chimes, silhouettes of military helicopters, text that fills the screen, and a taping of a geisha woman kneeling before a plate of sushi with a gun on it, that loops over and over.  The film is also laden with digital computer effects that run through out the 90 minute production, effects that are used to create visually appealing vortexes of colors. 

I’m still not quite sure if it worked for me though, but based on this it was a challenging piece of art, and that my friends justifies it certain potential.  I enjoy art that I don’t get, like a piece of music that makes no sense, but after several listens, things begin to come together.   Although Mr. Lewnes was there to explain some of it, Loop is definitely one of these pieces of work, that an effort must be put forth to retain some of its understanding, perhaps I should start read a little Mishima.