Shorts: Split Second

The title of this short program is very easy to understand.  Things happen, or a decision is made in a “split second”.

The Second Line

Directed By John Magary

Synopsis:

After MacArthur's savings are stolen from his FEMA trailer, he and his cousin Natt take work gutting a house. The Second Line was a national finalist for the Student Academy Awards® and has played at Sundance, SXSW, and the Edinburgh International Film Festival.

This was a fantastic film.  It is very well acted and directed.  The script is tight and full of real pathos.  At 20 minutes in length, a short film needs to have something to say, and this film does. 

Dusk (La Hora Cero)

Directed By Gary Alazraki

Synopsis:

A highway accident in the Mexican desert forces a couple to make a life-defining decision.

Dusk is a film that holds your attention, and gets to its point fairly quickly.  Though it doesn’t break new ground it is well made and acted.  I really liked the sound in this short.  It added a lot to an ok film. 

Hesitation

Directed By Virginia Gilbert

Synopsis:

It is the perfect vacation for middle-aged couple Paul and Rebecca: a beautiful sun-drenched resort where they can relax all day by the pool, reading, sunning, and swimming. When a spirited French boy tears his way through the picture-perfect scene, oblivious to the noise and disruption his games and childish antics cause, he becomes the focus of Paul's irrational, ever-increasing irritation. But at a crucial moment, Paul hesitates between what he should do and what he wants to do, and the repercussions may last a lifetime.

What a compelling film Hesitation is.  The situation that the lead character finds himself in is one, I think most can understand.  This film is extremely well acted, beautifully shot and has an excellent script. The tension is palpable within this film almost like an unseen character.  After the climax of this film, you wish that there was more.  The relationship will forever be strained between the husband and wife and that is the real story.  Hopefully Virginia Gilbert will give us more.

Roads

Directed By Lior Gellar

Synopsis:

Thirteen-year-old Ismayil works for the most powerful drug dealer in the Arab city of Lod; Daniel, a traumatized Israeli ex-soldier, often buys drugs from Ismayil, trying to escape his own reality. When Ismayil's little brother is hired to help him with a sell, he decides he's had enough, and in a frantic encounter deep in the city slums, Ismayil and Daniel find in each other a way out of their respective hells.

An extremely powerful film that makes you wish for more.  Excellent stand out performances and a sharp and remarkable script, made this my favorite film of the group.  Lior Gellar has an amazing eye.  The lead child in this film is someone I expect to see again, he was truly amazing. 

Being Human

Directed By Mike Palermo

Synopsis:

If you were given the power to save humanity at the risk of destroying the world, would you exercise that power? Being Human shows how even the best of us are still only human, and that the greatest of gifts can have the most devastating and dire consequences.

I really enjoyed the idea behind this film.  It was offbeat, quirky and makes you think a little.  This was just a well made film.  Sometimes the acting seemed a little stilted but this movie is all about the ending and it delivered.  I got a chance to meet the three brothers behind this film and they are truly remarkable.  Look for our interview soon. 

CoffeeBreak (Kaffepausen)

Directed By Johannes Pico

Synopsis:

While on a coffee break, two police officers spot a woman in a car fumbling with the windshield wipers and decide to make a check. A cruel experience ensues when the senior officer discovers that she is lost and has forgotten her driver license.

This is a film that truly made me squirm.  In a society where abuse of power is commonplace, it is a fear that many people experience on a normal basis.  This was a difficult film to watch, as it should be. 

God Only Knows

Directed By Mark V Reyes

Synopsis:

In a dirty, decaying slum in the Philippines, single mother Maria is torn between her love for her 10-year-old son Santiago and providing a better life for him. In order to give Santiago a chance to have a decent home and a good education, she decides to send him away for adoption. But what starts out as an innocent journey to the market quickly turns into a devastating loss for both mother and son.

This was a very emotional film.  The ending left me a little confused.  I thought it might be suggesting that the kid was about to be abused, but I am not really sure.  The acting from the mother was very powerful.  This was a beautiful film that owes a lot to its cinematography.  It might be a tad long but still a very nice film.