What’s on: October 20th — UWPG Goes International
Family is king on first night of international films
Jason Pchajek, staff writer
If they’re around, you might want to grab your family for tonight’s lineup at the UWPG Film Festival. With the festival going online, viewers have the pleasure of seeing what student filmmakers from around the world can do, and for most, family was hard to ignore.
Planting Earth Week – United States
“Karlos Edmonds plans for his greatest climate protest action yet—to illegally plant trees in New York City’s Central Park—even after getting arrested 12 times in the last year. With the 50th anniversary of Earth Day coming up, he is well on his way to building his protest army until a worldwide pandemic threatens to cancel mass gatherings. But what at first seems like a downfall of his plans, becomes an opportunity for others to plant trees in their own homes, fulfilling Edmonds' vision of helping make a greener earth in a non-radical way.”
Who is a better mother than Mother Earth?
Kicking off night two, we have this tough doc from Brian Ryu, as we follow the story of Karlos Edmonds, as he moves to make a statement in the best way he knows how – by planting trees. With the world more divided than ever, we need an issue to rally around together, and there’s no better issue than the survival of our Earth.
A powerful doc that’ll make viewers stand up and cheer for civil “disobedience”, and a great way to start the evening.
Exist – Iran
“A mother sells fish to purchase capsules of oxygen for her son.”
Where would we be without mothers?
The first of the Best International Short nominees is short, sweet, and visually beautiful. Payam Shadniya has an eye for composing great shots, following an older mother through the process of her day. Catching fish, transporting them miles to sell on the side of a busy highway, purchasing oxygen at a market, and carrying it all the way back home for her disabled son, only to start the whole process anew.
It may be brief, but it will stay with you long after it’s over.
Air – Argentina
“’Aire’ is a small cinematographic essay. It deals with reflections on modern society and the individual, on the language and the cinematographic apparatus. It tries and proposes to multiply the possible semantic relations of the audiovisual language. It is a work with free and open interpretation.”
After the visual contrast and beauty of Iran, to Argentina, with an experimental piece by Ivan Varela. More art than film, using abstract visuals to explore the relationships of meaning in the audiovisual medium. You might be confused, you might be inspired, you might be any number of things, but that’s the point. There’s no way to prepare you for a piece like this, so all we can say is, watch it and decide for yourself.
Ukde –Turkey
“One day Leyla comes to Güzide's house with a little girl. Leyla asks Guzide to take care of the child for a few days, says that she will go out of town for work and will get her back. This little girl (Ecca) touches Güzide's past and makes sure she doesn't feel alone. One day Leyla comes back. On that day, Güzide feels her loneliness again.”
As the director states “The word 'ukde' means that you feel that there is something missing in you. That's why I wanted the film to be [named Ukde].” Fusing the diaspora felt by refugees with the human loneliness of lost companionship, this Turkish film will be sure to leave you emotionally stirred.
A long story short – Romania
“A snail has a journey. He meets a lost mirror and he thinks that his life has an important purpose. The snail is curious about his own reflection until everything gets lost in his mind and the dream of the snail becomes confused.”
Ever think that you’d feel something after watching a romantic documentary starring a snail? Me neither, but here we are. Beautifully shot, wonderfully strange, and oh what a ride. Exploring the ups and downs of human existence through the lens of a snail, this film is something to behold.
And no, I never saw myself writing a sentence like that.
Chickpeace – Luxembourg
“A young immigrant wants to rescue Europe.”
Staying on the strange but wonderful train for a moment, we have Sirvan Marogy’s film, which follows a young immigrant who knows the greatest secret of all: the only way to peace, is hummus. No, I’m not kidding. Stay with me. The logline does this film no justice. It’s quirky, it’s weird, it’s funny, but also weirdly captures the hope and innocence of young immigrants. Before things get too serious tonight, have a laugh with Chickpeace.
Drifter – India
“A saga of unheard prayers, that's what a woman's life is. A woman's dream, her wishes, and our voice remain unheard of the cacophonic society. She becomes a good daughter who's ready to become a good wife. Being owned by one man and being ready to be handed over to another. Her voice freezes like a warm chilly night. But dreams are the fire that burns inside her to keep her warm. Can she gather all the courage to break the chain and to fly away? The one-woman becomes every woman's story here.”
Films like Samya Mandal’s Drifter are why we need more female and BIPOC voices in film. Sharing a story from the cultural world of middle-class India that transcends locality, the film reflects something more universal. Society tells us who we should be, how we should look, how we should act, and our place within it. It is stifling, and suffocating, and all you want is to get out.
Another nominee for Best International Short, Drifter is masterfully made. From the locations, to the cinematography, the acting, and the direction, they all shine and will leave you wanting more.
Parental – Spain
“Miguel has a 12-hour liberty permit, and from prison he is forced to transport cocaine to France. His son Joan makes a round trip from Lyon to spend the day with him. Miquel tries to cheat his son to transport the drug, but his doubts increase when he knows that he will be a grandfather, forcing him to decide between his life or his son.”
With Parental, director Antonio Galarzo wanted to explore the chain of parenthood, how the actions and decisions of our parents are transferred from one generation to the next. Will you break that chain? Make different decisions and live a better life? Or will you continue down the path, for better or for worse. Yet another Best International Short nominee, this Spanish family drama is a must-watch on day two of the festival.
not everything has to work out – Argentina
“Malena is a popular, successful self-help writer that is going through a depression. While she's dealing with the surprise visit of her dad, a TV Show is coming to her house for an interview about her latest work: "Happy Parents".”
One of the headlining films of the night, this film perfectly reflects the experience of young people today. What does it mean to be happy? When is it enough? When have we got things figured out? There is supreme pressure in our lives to answer these questions, but Carmin Aisen and Franco Albertti instead say, maybe not.
This film is a masterclass in meaning, and for their effort the directing duo are nominated for Most Promising International filmmaker. It’s technically superb, visually beautiful, and amazingly acted.
Everyone needs to watch this film. Watch it twice even. You won’t be disappointed.
Action – Russia
“A 50-year-old actor of province theatre comes to Saint-Petersburg with a tour. Unfortunately he doesn’t play big parts, but he is not going to stay aside.”
Alina Kikelya is another nominee for Most Promising International filmmaker, and after watching Action, you’ll know why. Mixing comedy and drama, this Russian film tells the emotional story of a 50-something actor who has sacrificed everything for his dream, but can’t quite seem to break through.
It’s cost him his marriage, and might cost him his daughter, but he must make it. Kikelya has crafted a brilliant and moving film, and the camera work alone makes this film a must-see, the amazing writing and acting are a bonus.