In a program that collected films from worldwide sources, the topics were as varied as the cultures.
Mike Jonathan’s "Hawaikii" examines the small world of a young girl who is having trouble incorporating her Maori culture into her modern school environment. The message is beautifully delivered with minimal dialogue.
"Nasija" is Guillermo Ríos Bordón’s tragic but effectual tale of a woman in Sub-Saharan Africa who is condemned to be stoned by her village according to ancient rules. As she is dragged from her family and buried to her neck, she reflects upon intense memories that result from sharp colors. As the rest of the world is presented in diffused colors, her memories are clear and jarring. The result is a very powerful film, as seen from the victim’s point of view.
"Big Family" is Cyril Cohen’s cute little (3 min.) film displaying the New York City skyline during a power outage. But that’s alright, because the lights need to be out to properly sing "Happy Birthday." The audience was a little confused as to when to clap, as bouncy music kicked in with the credits and the skyscrapers were still on display, but the film was enjoyed.
Maureen Bharoocha’s "My Dad" ("Abajee") is the only film in the fest (that I’m aware of) with a chicken cam. At least that is what views from a rooster fight look like, so I can only imagine the foul have been fitted properly. As a small boy becomes obsessed with allowing his rooster to fight, he failed to consider all possible consequences. The director said the film was based on a story her father told about his childhood.
Babak Meinaghi tackles aural annoyances in "Noise." An Iranian radio loudspeaker keeps the protagonist up at all hours, and destroying the machine has no effect. Simply filmed, but the humor is straightforward.
"Miami Beach: Fabulous Fifties" lets director Brooke Roberts-Webb dust off the celebrity history books on Miami Beach and allows interviewees to reflect on the glory days of cabana summers and nightclub hopping. An uncomplicated reflection of a hip time had by all.
Lighthearted and entertaining, Mariam Jobrani and Kenny Krauss’ "The Fighting Cholitas" was a hit with the audience. Native Indian women of Boliva are called, cholitas – identified by their layered skirts and high-set bowler hats. When a gym began to loose attention for its fights, the owner decided what the people really wanted was to see these women in the wrestling ring. The women split WWF-style into tecnicas (good) versus rudas (bad). An intriguing documentary, the film examines the effect of this new lifestyle on the contestants and their town. Besides, who doesn’t want to hear a sweet-faced woman say, "I am Julia of La Paz, and I am going to smash your face!" (Don’t worry, she’s a tecnica.)
"Freedom Plaza" is Pericles Lewnes’ very simple retelling of a conversation between himself and a woman who was injured in Baghdad. A basic film style allows the words of concern speak for themselves.
"Time Piece" (read my review here) is Kat Mansoor’s beautifully shot documentary of two of the world’s greatest watchmakers. One of the masters says, "The watch is a small representation of the universe; a small window on another world." Who knew so much could be perceived in springs and gears?