"The First Time (La Primera Vez)"
"The First Time" is the first short in the Festival of Shorts, and centers on a 70 year old woman who calls on the services of a young male prostitute. What shines through most in this short is the comedy, though the film work is fairly decent all around. Most of the humor is situational. The young escort struggles to keep with his normal “work routine” while the old woman continues to ask him odd questions. Even when left alone he acts nervous with ever action. Whether it's the well written script or the great acting, you'll be laughing the entire time.
"Tapeworm"
Don't worry: this isn't about the kind of tapeworms you’re thinking it is. "Tapeworm" is a Stop-motion animated film about two pieces of tape struggling to be together. Though it starts out simple, the plot and animation become more involved as the film progresses, and the pieces of tape get themselves into bizarre situations. The animation is solid, but becomes even more impressive when you learn it was done by a fifteen year old in one day. The music selection is well thought out and really brings this heartfelt story to life.
"God of Love"
A man called Raymond Goodfellow uses magic darts to make the woman of his dreams love him in this short called “God of Love. Although the ending is predictable, the story goes in unique directions thanks to the magic darts. Like cupid’s arrows, they make the person they hit fall in love, but only for six hours, and this restriction sets up a great scenario in which Raymond has to learn about love. This quirky film takes a relaxed pace and is filled with laughs.
"The Cow Who Wanted to Be a Hamburger"
A Bill Plympton animated short about a cow that, you guessed it, wants to be a hamburger. The problem being, of course, is that the cow is too small. This short weaves a dark theme into a funny and colorful tale, but sadly the low frame rate and thick line work create a shaking effect that can be distracting. It’s a great short, but it's hard to watch something your eyes can’t focus on.
"Me Time"
This is a fun short about a man who slowly removes his friends from his life so he can finally get time to himself. The humor ranges from subtle to over the top as the director explores all the different possible reactions of the character’s friends. It's hard not to see the social commentary of our modern age, and that parallel helps make the film relatable. This movie is a winner.
"Can't Walk Anymore (Ya No Puede Caminar)"
A short film from Spain, “Can’t Walk Anymore” is about a boy who finds a unique way of dealing with his fear of creatures. This film is dark and may leave some audience members disturbed, an effect that is enhanced camera angles that capture every moment creatively. This film’s only real flaw are the misplaced dramatic tones in the sound design that leave you waiting for things that aren't there, but the dark ending makes this film a pleasure for those who enjoy the darker elements.
"20 Minutes"
This piece tells the story of an ex-convict fresh out of prison. He has twenty minutes to get to his brother’s house or miss his chance to start his life over, and in this race against time, he has to face his past with drugs, gambling and prostitution. It’s hard to stay on the side of the ex-con at some points, but the film’s flow pulls you on. With a generic soundtrack, the film is nonetheless successful at its intended goal of showing another side of life.
Finally, we'd like to thank the Film Brothers for letting us review their festival. It was a fun experience in a great atmosphere. So check out their website below for more on them and hopefully we'll see you at the next festival!
www.filmbrothers.com
Written by Chris
Edited by Aaron
