8: Women in Cinema SHORTS!

Isn't it the perfect time of year for short films?  I don't know why that is.

Maybe it's that the Oscars remind us all that shorts even still exist...

Ranging from boring to confusing to exceptional, the Women in Cinema Shorts reel was pretty standard in terms of selection.  That's not really a bad thing.  I've just come to have specific expectations for these kinds of showcases.

The first film was "Spark," a touching story of two children who meet and share a special moment, with foreshadowing of adulthood looming in the background.  Really, really fantastic.

The second film (Night Hunter) was weird, and I have no clue what was going on. That is the perfect spot to stick something weird that no-one will remember anything about, except that it was weird.  It was a bizarre animation that included some footage of an old actress, and a bunch of shit that was cacophonous and jarring.

The Pompous Man sitting behind me loved it.  Before the screening, he made a long series of condescending remarks to his female companion.  She mentioned that she was going to plan some kind of trip to India, and then he berated her for referring to India generally, instead of regionally.  "It's a big place, you know."

Why this woman goes anywhere with that man is beyond me.  I felt like telling him to hit the bricks on behalf of humankind.

You know what you're supposed to say when someone tells you they are planning a trip to India?  You say, "That's great!  I'm so happy for you."

Anyway, Pompous was impressed.  "Interesting," he whispered in the dark.

What a douche.

The third film (A Cuillin Rising) was really interesting and upsetting, but I really have no clue what was going on.  It was much, much too vague. I got the general sense that there was some family unrest, and maybe a Romeo & Juliet kind of thing going on. But for reals... I didn't get it. It did, however, make me want to watch a feature-length version of it, provided that said version would make sense in some way.

I think number four was Zing.   A SUPER CUTE animated short.  I loved it.  It was bizarre and dark, but had optimism smeared all over it.  Plus, it had a weird-looking old dude, and a tiny heart-warming, but precocious kid with a cat.  How can you go wrong?   Loved it!

Number five was "Us, a Family Album."  This one was strange, because I got the sense that it was supposed to be a documentary, but all the scenes looked staged.  It also had the misfortune of basically being the exact same idea as this viral video, only much less well done.  Sad for them.  But, if it was a real couple, then good for them.  We all love gay people in Seattle.  In fact, it almost seemed like a non-twist to me.  Maybe it came out 10 years too late.

Number six was a really sweet, beautifully shot movie called "The Fisherman" out of Mexico.  A touching allegory about life and death, passing time, love, and memories.  Really excellent.

And finally... (I think... You know, these might all be out of order.  It's a mystery.) The Tram.  AH!  I loved the Tram.  It was the story of a busty, shy, horny female tram driver having an erotic fantasy while driving rigid, humorless men to work. SO FUN. Lots of overt sexuality and super cute animation. Plus, a really sweet ending. It was my favorite of the bunch.

So, there you have it.  Most likely, none of you will see any of these shorts.  But, if you get a chance, go see a short film showcase.  Usually there's one weird one, one stinker, and several that are really great.  That's better than your odds at most feature length films!

Peggy's rating: Four out of Five stars.