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holton1225
Reviews
Born with It (2015)
sad racism
This short film is made in 2015, relatively new film. A black coloured boy who was born and raised in Japan is bulkyed at school by other kids. But there was a boy in his class who really don't care what others say and he would stay with that black boy. I thought this movie describe the real and possible situation which mixed-raced children would once face in schools. It is not always people's skin coulor and their language are matched. In the countries like Japan, which are regarded as monolingual/monocultural countries, this kind of thing might often happen. This film completely illustrates how mixed-raced children and adults are struggling with their identity in the society which they are trying to fit in. For an educational purpose, this film is also helpful. You should go and watch the film.
Atonement (2007)
people's complex mind
This film, Atonement, was made in 2007. A small girl who told a lie to people that her sister's boyfriend raped her friend. Actually he is not a victim but he eventually was arrested for her childish confession. Peoples' lives become completely different as they wish and take for granted. I thought even though that is a mistake which a small girl did it was a really big deal. Small mistake can lead to a huge tragedy. All the more because it happens within family, things has been greatly confused. As I have a sister, I kind of understand how difficult it is to fix the relationship. Sometimes once family relationship doesn't go well, it becomes really tough to handle. Also, the set of the film is under the war situation so everyone in the film is struggling. This point is also something which I have to highlight. My point here is, when people make a really silly mistake, it can lead to a huge tragedy. Therefore once you notice that was problem, you should apologise otherwise like this girl, you should live with the strong feeling of regret to death. This film really hurts you, but I should recommend you go and watch it.
A Moment (2012)
cannot forget
This short film starts with the scene of four people with serious faces who seem not to be happy. Each has their own job and own life. However, on the important day for them, they all do the same thing, thinking about their loved ones. At the beginning of the film, about for 5 or 6 minutes, I didn't understand what was going on. They suddenly start crying and the images give no information why. The characters seem not to be friends, they are not even acquaintances, which makes me puzzled. However, one important scene which only shows the time and the date makes me realise that it is about the historical incident which we should never forget. I think if this film told us the theme at the very beginning of the film, it would be really boring. The filmmakers must have thought not telling the whole theme and its message for a while should make its impact much stronger. Another distinctive point of this film is an international perspective. They are three different nationalities, American, Taiwanese, and Japanese. The tragedy portrayed was not about only Japan. Even though it happened in Japan, not only Japanese people but also other nationalities have been suffering from the painful incident. There have been so many campaigns, like cheering "Japanese" people and "Japan" just because it happened in Japan, however, it might be a bit beside the point. We might have missed one point; it wasn't a Japanese-thing but a world-thing. I suppose the filmmakers successfully tell us our overlooked point and give us a new perspective, using very effective camerawork and the change of the characters' facial expressions. If you go and see the film at a cinema, this film will definitely convey a very strong impression and message. You should watch the film.
Whacked (1998)
comical but super wise
This short film "Whacked!" was made in 1996. A man who woks for a golf course seems to do monotonous job, like picking up golf balls while driving a truck. The man suddenly grabs a golf club and starts hitting golf balls again and again on the rooftop. I suppose the main character has so many complaints about his situation. He doesn't seem to earn much money considering his current job and appearance. Sometimes in this film, there are contrasts between the seemingly poor main character and rich people who enjoy playing golf. For example, the guy who is knocked unconscious at the end of this film wears a neat suit, while the main character wears a worn-out pullover. I noticed that the main character is perhaps Hispanic, while the guy who is hit is white. In the very early part of this film, we can find a small map of Texas. Texas is located close to Mexico, therefore, the main character must be from Mexico and is one of the immigrants living in the US. He might feel inferior to white people in his job, his life, and so on. He might have been willing to defeat people who are considered to be superior to him. That might be why he starts to play golf, hits someone, and has a victorious smile in the end. So my point here is, this film must show the social status differences and discrimination which the United States has. In the US, there are so many Hispanic people who have been discriminated by white people as the country has a long history of immigration. In this comical way of illustrating, this film successfully tells us the dark side of the society. You should go and watch the film.
Fish Out of Water (2005)
calm film
This comical short movie, "Fish Out of Water", was made in 2005. A man who commutes to his workplace by rowing his boat finds this way is very comfortable. However, suddenly a woman and her colleagues starts joining his journey to the workplace, and things change day by day. I suppose the strongest message of this film is how important it is for people to live their own life. The film contrasts very modern urban people and the hero, an old-fashioned guy. (and a woman who is fishing) in a pretty much clear way. For example, the man doesn't seem to posses electronics but the urban people are always busy with their electronics. Also, the man wears light-coloured clothes but the urban people wear black suits. In this way, the audience can get a message that their lives are complete opposites. Eventually, both of them realize it is not right to imitate someone's way of living. This message becomes all the more strong because this film doesn't have any dialogue. We can see so may implications and hints behind their behavior and facial expressions. I want you to focus on the woman who is always fishing near the harbor. Her facial expressions change through the film. I think it might explain everything which the film makers wanted to convey to you. This film is of course quite short but the messages are so meant for all the people who struggle with finding their own way of living. It is worth going to see in a cinema.
Porcelain Unicorn (2010)
Love under the war
This short film, "Porcelain Unicorn" was made in 2010. In 1943, Germany, there is a boy who secretly communicates with a Jewish girl, who escapes during World War II. This film is truly heart warming. Even if people get old, people must remember what they said and did at the memorable moment. I think this young boy cannot forget that he could not give the unicorn her back. However, finally he can meet her, a Jewish girl, and can give the unicorn back to her. People must have struggled with the war situation. Even under the hard time, maybe like that young boy, there should have been beautiful moments which people cannot forget. The dialogue in this film is quite sparse, but these lines tell you how hard the war situation was and how deep his love for the Jewish girl is. You should go and watch this film, it's a really heart-warming one.
Three Days in Kamakura (2012)
Just three days, but it feels timeless
This short film was made in 2012. One day a little boy's mother doesn't come to the English school to pick him up, and a British teacher brings him home. The teacher's marriage isn't going well and he tries to adopt the little boy. I think there is so much heartwarming and beautiful camerawork and acting in this film, for example, when the wife pretends to sleep on the bed while David eats breakfast. As he leaves home, she opens her eyes. Her melancholic look and behavior tells the audience that this couple is not getting along now. Through this film, her facial expression seems to be very pessimistic. On the other hand, David seems to really care about her and his surroundings. I see this comparison as very important. As this film's name is "Three Days in Kamakura", there are a couple of scenes acted near the seashore. Also, sea breeze can successfully add some fresh taste to this film. At the end of this film, eventually the coupe and the boy are separated and the little boy has been looking at the couple while he is being held by his biological father. This scene gives audience enough space to imagine what is on the little boy's mind. Does he thank them? Does he already know that his mother is in trouble now? Using a child in film sometimes can tell people that children know everything. I think his last act without words tells this kind of thing. This film is very calming and you can see how complicated the human relationship and people's emotion sometimes get. You should go and watch the film.
J'attendrai le suivant... (2002)
What does she need?
This romantic comical short film J'attendrai le suivant was made in 2002, in France. One lady who is on the train meets a guy who is declaring loudly that he is looking for someone special. As she listens to him speaking she becomes really curious about him but something unexpected happens. Romance is something which suddenly jumps into someone's life and none of us can assume what happens next. From my perspective, this lady has been dreaming of a moment which can be a trigger to make her into someone. Therefore, she 'expects' that is the very moment that she has wanted but it turns out it isn't, which is totally an unexpected event for her. This world is full of unexpected things and sometimes they make us realise the real world is not as beautiful as we expect. This film lasts just 3 minutes, but for me, this is a reflection of our everyday life. Everyone is disappointed with something in their life but they have to live and expect something will happen again just like waiting for the next train on a platform. I suppose the filmmakers choose 'romance' to put the audience at ease and the punchline is so clever. You should go and watch this cool short film.
Spielzeugland (2007)
Love over the conflict
This short film was made in 2007, the setting is in the Second World War in Germany. Jewish people are discriminated against and they are taken to "Toyland." Two boys, David, who is Jewish, and Heinrich, are getting along well with each other. Heinrich manages to be with his Jewish friend, trying to get in the train which takes Jewish people to "Toyland." Heinrich's mother is seemingly looking for her boy seriously but I think it is already planned and she knows everything. When she calls David, who is already on the train, as Heinrich, her eyes show a strong desire to save and raise the boy. At first, I couldn't understand the reason why the woman could adopt the Jewish boy, but I suppose this is the point of the film. In that age in Germany, Jewish people were really looked down on, but what German people said and did were accepted simply because they are German. This film is a complete reflection of the discrimination against Jews. The film tells us that even if they were in the war situation, there should have been love and consideration among people over their different backgrounds. You should go and watch the film, this film is truly moving.
Father and Daughter (2000)
Family love
This short animation movie was made in 2000. This film starts with a scene in which a father and his daughter go to the river by bike. After he says goodbye there to his daughter, she rides her bike often, hoping to see him again. In my opinion, this film has some distinctive scenes. For example, in the early part of this film, there is one old woman who goes past this daughter and she looks at the old woman. It seems that she is worried that she might not be able to see her father again till she becomes an old women just like that women. Her anxiety turns to reality, she eventually she keeps attempting to see her father again till that age. This scene is a foreshadowing, which could tell audience what will happen in this film. I find this way of using foreshadowing very beautiful. Only by seeing this old woman, the audience can assume what will happen next and it gives them an exciting feeling. Another point which I would like to mention is, the filmmakers might want to portray how people's relationships will change in one's life. Through this film, the audience sees the daughter's life from an objective perspective. As time goes by, the daughter becomes a student who gets along with her friends, a woman who loves someone and has her own family, and an old woman who looks back on her young days. There are so many stages in someone's life, but there should be one thing which cannot be changed, and in her case, that is love for her father. She has been possessing her love for her father even though she gets through different life stages. The last scene is truly moving. I guess her days also expire as her father's did so and she can meet her father. When she hugs him, she looks young but not too young like when she had to say goodbye to him. I guess she, in her young age like in her mid 20s, might have missed him the most in her life. Therefore, after her death, she could get back to that age and could see her father again. For me, animation films sometimes are boring. However, this one is exceptional. You should watch this film. Maybe you will reflect on the love in your life so far.