Section44(2008) is directed by Daniel Wilson and filmed in England. When Richard leaves his house, he is suddenly kidnapped and taken away in a trailer. He is brought to a dark room with only a chair and a desk, and is told that he was under arrest for planning terrorism. Richard protests that they had the wrong person, but surprisingly, the features they gave for the suspect all applied to Richard. While trying to find a way to get out, a dangerous-looking gadget is attached to his head. Terrified, Richard tries to grab the men's attention by spilling out secrets of his brother,friends and girlfriend. Then suddenly, Richard's girlfriend appears and slaps Richard in his face. The lights turn on, and Richard finds out that the whole thing was his surprise birthday party. Slowly, his friends start to walk away, leaving Richard who has found out that he was going to have his worst birthday in his life.
I really loved the plot, the sudden change of tension. The movie was completely a suspense until the girlfriend comes on screen, no one could guess it. Though, I think this is a plot that would only work in shorts, since the trick makes sort of a lassitude, probably would not fit with long movies. The short film's quick unfolds keep the audiences' attention, and makes the effect of switching tensions more stronger, using all of the merits of the short movies. Until watching this, I didn't feel much about shorts compared to full movies, but now I will take that idea away.
Monday, June 18, 2012
Saturday, June 16, 2012
ある晴れた日 A Good Day #9 (Shoko Yokota)
Hello, this is Shoko. I watched a film from Sweden called A Good Day(2005) directed by Per Hanefjord.
This film is about two elderly men. One is named Nils who retired from the Ministry of Environment and Forests and the other is Gosta Johansson who is a farmer. Nils comes to a rural area to commit suicide. However, when Nils is waiting a train on a railroad crossing to be run over, Gosta accidentally finds and helps him though he even doesn't know what he tried to do. Gosta invites Nils to his house for a cup of coffee. Although Nils tries to leave the house, Gosta tries to hold him every time by showing his house and his life. After a while, Nils finally leaves home. He comes back to the rail crossing. But this time, he has changed his mind and through the crossing to go back his home.
After watching this film, one idiom comes up in my mind. That is "Treasure every encounter, for it will never recur" which is "一期一会" in Japanese. In the film, Nils actually did not expect an encounter with Gosta. If he did not meet him, the future would be really different. We cannot predict our future. That truth sometimes makes us depressed. But sometimes it also makes us hopeful. Thanks to this wonderful short film, I re-realized the important thing for life.
Lastly, I put one of my favorite scenes from the film here. A man on the right side is Nils and the other is Gosta.
This film is about two elderly men. One is named Nils who retired from the Ministry of Environment and Forests and the other is Gosta Johansson who is a farmer. Nils comes to a rural area to commit suicide. However, when Nils is waiting a train on a railroad crossing to be run over, Gosta accidentally finds and helps him though he even doesn't know what he tried to do. Gosta invites Nils to his house for a cup of coffee. Although Nils tries to leave the house, Gosta tries to hold him every time by showing his house and his life. After a while, Nils finally leaves home. He comes back to the rail crossing. But this time, he has changed his mind and through the crossing to go back his home.
After watching this film, one idiom comes up in my mind. That is "Treasure every encounter, for it will never recur" which is "一期一会" in Japanese. In the film, Nils actually did not expect an encounter with Gosta. If he did not meet him, the future would be really different. We cannot predict our future. That truth sometimes makes us depressed. But sometimes it also makes us hopeful. Thanks to this wonderful short film, I re-realized the important thing for life.
Lastly, I put one of my favorite scenes from the film here. A man on the right side is Nils and the other is Gosta.
Thursday, June 14, 2012
ゴーストのおいしいレシピ The Bake Shop Ghost #7 (Koichi Saito)
I chose a film from the U.S. called The Bake Shop Ghost (2009), directed by Lorette Bayle.
This movie focuses on two lonely women. An old woman runs her bake shop in a small town. Her cakes are very delicious, but she is a cold person. One day, a girl visits this bake shop and purchases a small cake. The old woman accepts money from the girl at first, but she returns it with smile.
Then the scene changes and we face a funeral of the old woman. After her death, some people tried to begin their businesses in her shop, but they were not allowed to make cakes there by a ghost of the old woman. After these troubles, a young woman comes there to start her kitchen. When the young woman arrange the shop, the ghost appears as usual. The ghost tries to stop her, but she doesn't change her mind. To stop the prevention from the ghost, the young women asked what she should do. Then Ghost answered she should bake delicious cakes. She makes a lot of cakes, but she isn't permitted to open her kitchen. One day, she happens to know the ghost's birthday. On her birthday, the young women offers her a birthday cake. The ghost looks surprised. During their meal, the young woman tell the ghost that she is a girl, who visited the old woman's bake shop. The girl bought a cake as her own birthday cake. Unfortunately, her parents had already died. At that time, they were both alone. After eating her birthday cake, the ghost allow her to open her kitchen. When she opens, her bake shop, most people in the town are surprised, because they can enjoy the old woman's cake again.
I was moved by this movie. I think even if you're lonely, you can support somebody, like the old woman. I'd like to be a man supporting someone without realizing.
This movie focuses on two lonely women. An old woman runs her bake shop in a small town. Her cakes are very delicious, but she is a cold person. One day, a girl visits this bake shop and purchases a small cake. The old woman accepts money from the girl at first, but she returns it with smile.
Then the scene changes and we face a funeral of the old woman. After her death, some people tried to begin their businesses in her shop, but they were not allowed to make cakes there by a ghost of the old woman. After these troubles, a young woman comes there to start her kitchen. When the young woman arrange the shop, the ghost appears as usual. The ghost tries to stop her, but she doesn't change her mind. To stop the prevention from the ghost, the young women asked what she should do. Then Ghost answered she should bake delicious cakes. She makes a lot of cakes, but she isn't permitted to open her kitchen. One day, she happens to know the ghost's birthday. On her birthday, the young women offers her a birthday cake. The ghost looks surprised. During their meal, the young woman tell the ghost that she is a girl, who visited the old woman's bake shop. The girl bought a cake as her own birthday cake. Unfortunately, her parents had already died. At that time, they were both alone. After eating her birthday cake, the ghost allow her to open her kitchen. When she opens, her bake shop, most people in the town are surprised, because they can enjoy the old woman's cake again.
I was moved by this movie. I think even if you're lonely, you can support somebody, like the old woman. I'd like to be a man supporting someone without realizing.
星の下で Starcrossed #6 (Yu Yamanashi)
I chose a film from England called Starcrossed (2011), directed by Tactful Cactus.
This film was a love story about a man trying to see his lover. At the beginning of the film, only the man appears in the screen, and he seems to be a mathematician or scientist of some sort who is trying desperately to find an answer to a difficult equasion. He is going to and fro his lab and a park with a grand view of the night sky which is supposed to be their meeting place, but the two somehow keep on passing each other for some reason. The man, tired from all the hard work, almost sleeps past the last meeting time, but his lover's tweet wakes him in time for him to see her spacecraft crossing the night sky in the same orbit he calculated.
This film had me confused at first, and the ending really took me by pure surprise. After recognizing the plot, the man’s peculiar actions transformed itself into a compassionate, sweet effort to see his far away lover. The message that love over millions of miles could exist if you just tried hard enough was very touching, and gave me much hope.
This film was a love story about a man trying to see his lover. At the beginning of the film, only the man appears in the screen, and he seems to be a mathematician or scientist of some sort who is trying desperately to find an answer to a difficult equasion. He is going to and fro his lab and a park with a grand view of the night sky which is supposed to be their meeting place, but the two somehow keep on passing each other for some reason. The man, tired from all the hard work, almost sleeps past the last meeting time, but his lover's tweet wakes him in time for him to see her spacecraft crossing the night sky in the same orbit he calculated.
This film had me confused at first, and the ending really took me by pure surprise. After recognizing the plot, the man’s peculiar actions transformed itself into a compassionate, sweet effort to see his far away lover. The message that love over millions of miles could exist if you just tried hard enough was very touching, and gave me much hope.
Wednesday, June 13, 2012
I'll wait for the next one 次の方、お待ちしています #1(Kimura Takuto)
I chose a film named "I'll wait for the next one(2002)" derected in France by Phillipe Orreindy.
The film is only 4 minutes.The story goes like this: a single woman gets on the train and a man suddenly begins speaking.He, also single, is looking for his wife saying if you want to be his wife, get off at the next station.He goes on to talk about his opinion on love which impresses her and she decides to drop off at the next station. Finally the train arrives at the station. Seeing her get off and smile , when doors are about to be closed, he says to her "I'm sorry but this is a little drama".
After watching this, I felt this was sad and funny movie. I sympathized with her, however, on the other hand I could not help laughing.
I think this movie will teach we have to doubt stories which are too good to be true.
↑You can see this movie on Youtube.
The film is only 4 minutes.The story goes like this: a single woman gets on the train and a man suddenly begins speaking.He, also single, is looking for his wife saying if you want to be his wife, get off at the next station.He goes on to talk about his opinion on love which impresses her and she decides to drop off at the next station. Finally the train arrives at the station. Seeing her get off and smile , when doors are about to be closed, he says to her "I'm sorry but this is a little drama".
After watching this, I felt this was sad and funny movie. I sympathized with her, however, on the other hand I could not help laughing.
I think this movie will teach we have to doubt stories which are too good to be true.
↑You can see this movie on Youtube.
Tuesday, June 12, 2012
Clod Blood 冷たい血 ＃３（Koyo Kodama）
I chose a film called Cold Blood(2010), from Canada, directed by Martin Thibaudeau.
The Film content is very simple in 4min long. At the beginning of this story, it starts with a boy through inside of car window, and his face setting with determination and gradually getting deep sadness as he close to the determination. Then, the boy finally reached to the hospital accompanied with his mother. However, as he recognized some patients, he suddenly tried to escape from his mother as if my life depends on it. He failed it and he was force to make a blood donation for his sister’s disease by his mother. As he was removed from a donor, he suddenly said “give my room too, mom”. Then mother recognized that he thought he will die for it and he decided for his sister for this. Then the film ends up with when his mother is hugging him with full of apologizing.
After I watched this film, I was so moved. Maybe this is because his great determination, deep family bond or possibly by great technique to get in to the film. The film shows just a popular document of very classic misunderstand by child. But the film technique and what they act, was completed accurately, seriously and fully. And I was deeply-moved by all of functions in the film. I think this is a little bit dark but great heartwarming film.
みんな一人ぼっち-Lonely Together #9 (Chiaki Tochihara)
I chose a film from Norway called Lonely Together (2006), directed by Trond Fausa Aurvag. This short film is comedy but I think we can think about love, friendship, and our life from this film. This film was about a guy who was jilted and became desperate. He went to a counselor and a group counselor and he told them about his ex-girlfriend. Always he was thinking about her and other members too. They always comforted each other to care of their wounded hearts. But he noticed that it's important to seize the day because we never know what might happen, so he put up some pictures of her on a wall and started his new life with a feeling of regret. One day, on his birthday, they hold a party at his house and they put a three-cornered hat on their head, at that time, the phone was ringing. That was his ex-girlfriend and she said that she wanted to celebrate him so she wanted to meet him. Then, he ran fast to the place where she was waiting, and they could see each other again, and she said "Do you think we could start over again?" but he didn't say "YES" instead of this he said "BATHROOM", and he went back to his house where his friends were. Finally, he could notice what he really want and need. I think life is short, so we can enjoy things which are just in front of us!! Begone, sad, self-pitying glance! Everything is so fantastic!!
わすれな草 Forget me not #4 (Natsumi Akita)
I chose a film from France called Forget me not(2008), directed by Katia Grivol.
In this movie, the old man, who lost his wife, is amnesia.When his wife had still lived, she made some notes about what he should do. It means that she was very worried about his ill, and wanted him not to forget her. So she had recorded her voice by herself, and she ordered him on notes to listen to her voice.What she did for him is very thoughtful. One day, he went to the dance party and met a strange woman. He feels anxiety because he couldn't remember who she was. But finally, she is his dead wife! After he went to bed, she kissed on his lips, he felt calm, went to sleep.
I think it is a little bit difficult to understand the story because it doesn't explain the situation of the man completely. It would be better if some items which shows it clearly.
But this story makes my heart very warm. It is a good movie, which expresses love of a couple and bond between them.Some day I want to find someone to get old with me until we become old man and woman.
In this movie, the old man, who lost his wife, is amnesia.When his wife had still lived, she made some notes about what he should do. It means that she was very worried about his ill, and wanted him not to forget her. So she had recorded her voice by herself, and she ordered him on notes to listen to her voice.What she did for him is very thoughtful. One day, he went to the dance party and met a strange woman. He feels anxiety because he couldn't remember who she was. But finally, she is his dead wife! After he went to bed, she kissed on his lips, he felt calm, went to sleep.
I think it is a little bit difficult to understand the story because it doesn't explain the situation of the man completely. It would be better if some items which shows it clearly.
But this story makes my heart very warm. It is a good movie, which expresses love of a couple and bond between them.Some day I want to find someone to get old with me until we become old man and woman.
North Atlantic/海の彼方 #7 ,Diane Hashimoto
I chose an english-portuguese film called North Atlantic {2010} ,by Bernard Nascimento.
The film is set in Corvo,of the Azores Archipelago ,where an isolated air traffic controller receives an emergency signal from a lost plane.
James,the scottish 62 year old pilot and Hugo,portuguese 32 year old air traffic controller,start communicating in a less formal manner,both aware that there is no chance to save the plane.
They both share details of their life and we learn that James has lost his wife when she was still young and that he has no family left,Hugo is single.
Hugo,with the guitar in his hands ,starts playing and James whistles to the melody along with him.
The story ends with the soft melody and the image of the plane gradually disappearing from the radar.
A message is then shown ,saying that the body of James was found the following day ,leaving the following note behind him ,meant for two men of the transatlantic saying "One day we"ll play again,take your time".
I found this short film particularly touching as it is the story two strangers,both from the other side of the world,who manage to develop a friendship in such dramatic circumstances.
The bond they share is even stronger as they are both aware it will be the last time they will be able to talk to each other,not even able to see each others face once.This true events based film is deeply moving and the mise -en-scene,though relatively simple (we can only see the inside of the small plane and the inside of the air traffic controller room) is spot on.
Furthermore,the acting is genuine and the casting could not be more suited.
The film is set in Corvo,of the Azores Archipelago ,where an isolated air traffic controller receives an emergency signal from a lost plane.
James,the scottish 62 year old pilot and Hugo,portuguese 32 year old air traffic controller,start communicating in a less formal manner,both aware that there is no chance to save the plane.
They both share details of their life and we learn that James has lost his wife when she was still young and that he has no family left,Hugo is single.
Hugo,with the guitar in his hands ,starts playing and James whistles to the melody along with him.
The story ends with the soft melody and the image of the plane gradually disappearing from the radar.
A message is then shown ,saying that the body of James was found the following day ,leaving the following note behind him ,meant for two men of the transatlantic saying "One day we"ll play again,take your time".
I found this short film particularly touching as it is the story two strangers,both from the other side of the world,who manage to develop a friendship in such dramatic circumstances.
The bond they share is even stronger as they are both aware it will be the last time they will be able to talk to each other,not even able to see each others face once.This true events based film is deeply moving and the mise -en-scene,though relatively simple (we can only see the inside of the small plane and the inside of the air traffic controller room) is spot on.
Furthermore,the acting is genuine and the casting could not be more suited.
深海の恋 Out of the Blue #5 (Fumiya Yoshikawa)
Hello, every one, I am Fumiya. I chose "Out of the Blue"for this blog, it was made in 2008 in Ireland by Michael Lavelle, and it is a silent movie like City Lights. This film have 9 minutes length, but I felt more longer. The main character of this film is, a fat man. As I watched, he is a normal person, and he has a calm personality. One day, his TV broke unexpectedly, but it repaired suddenly. Then, a beautiful mermaid appears in his TV, she looks like "Ariel" of the main character of Disney"s The Little Mermaid, she has a red hair and a emerald green tail. A fat man falls in love with this mermaid, but she is in his TV, he cannot talk to her, touch her and kiss her directly. However, he looks happy, he take her everywhere he goes, for instance a theater and a restaurant. When they enjoy their date, the water inside his TV drip down from it, it means the mermaid is in a trouble. He ran to the nearest sea to rescue her.When he arrived at the sea, he kissed her, actually he kissed on a screen of the TV, then he put it in the sea. However, he became unsatisfied to kiss on a screen, he jumped into the sea to meet her. At the last scene, they joined hands each other, but he has to take a breath, it means they could not stay no longer. At the last, he appears inside of the TV,in one view, it means they can stay together. I think this film is a heartbreaking, but I like. If you are interested in, please have a look!
Mia
Mia
秘密の学校 THE SCASRECROW GIRL #2 (Akane Homma)
I chose a film from Brazil entitled "The Scarecrow girl"(2008), directede by Cássio Pereira dos Santos. This film was about a girl who don't have literacy. In the story, she had to work on ricefield with her parents, despite her brother went to school. She really envied him, but she couldn't be allowed go to school. So she started to learn reading from him and obtained literacy. One day, her father received a letter from his brother, but his child who could read it was out. She tried to do it and showed her ability. Finally, she was permitted to go to school with her brother.
I was moved so much. I take it for granted that I go to school, but it is really blessed thing. I realized how happy it is that I have literacy. I hope that the future that more and more children can go to school and learn a lot of interesting things materialized someday.
I was moved so much. I take it for granted that I go to school, but it is really blessed thing. I realized how happy it is that I have literacy. I hope that the future that more and more children can go to school and learn a lot of interesting things materialized someday.
新しい友達-New Boy #1 (Kaori Shimamoto)
I watched a film from Ireland titled, New Boy (2007), directed by Steph Green.
This film was about a nine years old boy from Africa coming to a new school. There he is treated badly by some boys but soon gets along with them by laughing at a common event.
It was a very heart warming film besides the fact that the boy has gone through a tragic event. With the story telling the boy struggling in class, the film shows another event, in which shows the boys father being taken away by soldiers. After such a tragjic event, joining a class is something that makes you nervous and scared. He faces a new culture with new people. You always worry about getting along with others and in this film the boy starts off with almost getting bullied by two kids. But at the end the three boys get along by making fun of the teacher, which created something common between eachother. Something so small of an event can really make two different people become really close. It showed how kids become to understand eachother and solve their own problem.
This film was about a nine years old boy from Africa coming to a new school. There he is treated badly by some boys but soon gets along with them by laughing at a common event.
It was a very heart warming film besides the fact that the boy has gone through a tragic event. With the story telling the boy struggling in class, the film shows another event, in which shows the boys father being taken away by soldiers. After such a tragjic event, joining a class is something that makes you nervous and scared. He faces a new culture with new people. You always worry about getting along with others and in this film the boy starts off with almost getting bullied by two kids. But at the end the three boys get along by making fun of the teacher, which created something common between eachother. Something so small of an event can really make two different people become really close. It showed how kids become to understand eachother and solve their own problem.
キネマトグラフ Kinematograph #4 Midday
Kinematograph (Poland, 2009), directed by Tomek Baginski, is a short full polygonal CG animation featuring a married couple of inventors who try to finalize a kinematograph with color and sound. The animation was brilliant, and like all other polygonal or illustrative CG, this should be watched in as high of a definition as possible. The story has a rather bad aftertaste, but is perfect in pursuing its theme. You should know the Lumiere brothers before watching this work. For Japanese people who are not accustomed to the Western style of character design, make this your opportunity to get a good first impression of it. I don't know who did the subtitles, but the English ones were inaccurate. Regardless, I recommend you watch it raw because the subtitles only cover up the screen.
The following consists of spoilers so read on your own responsibility. (It can be read by highlighting the blank space below.
I might even go remaster the graphic quality on my own if I have the leisure, just so I can watch it on the TV at home in blu-ray quality. There are so many details in the polygonal design that are ruined by the low-quality stream on the main page.
The story is astounding. I had thought it was the usual story about an oblivious inventor putting burden on his surroundings and it becomes too late when he realizes what he had done, until the very end, when you realize this story may have had potential coherence with actual history, when the Lumiere brothers come about with the final devastating blow to the conclusion.
I liked how in the first scene that hints at the wife's sickness, the bgm was leading into the dynamic inventing scene with a drumming sound that resembled the ticking of a clock. I believe it was intentionally done to foreshadow her death later.
The inventing scene itself was amazing. The camera was in constant motion, dollying around whatever it was capturing in the same counterclockwise direction throughout. In sync with the music, it heightened the mood of the scene, and instigated some nostalgia from what I had felt when I had been doing research and inventing similar to this inventor.
I loved the transition from retaking her footage in color to showing it successfully on screen. It was so smooth, I didn't realize the transition had taken place until he called out to his wife to come and see the success.
The visual effects regarding the death sentence were also remarkable. I have never seen that vaporization effect used to fade not only from one scene to another, but to also partially depict the graveyard in a euphemistic fashion in between the two scenes. That was a very unique method only made possible in this context.
Amazing short film indeed.
The following consists of spoilers so read on your own responsibility. (It can be read by highlighting the blank space below.
I might even go remaster the graphic quality on my own if I have the leisure, just so I can watch it on the TV at home in blu-ray quality. There are so many details in the polygonal design that are ruined by the low-quality stream on the main page.
The story is astounding. I had thought it was the usual story about an oblivious inventor putting burden on his surroundings and it becomes too late when he realizes what he had done, until the very end, when you realize this story may have had potential coherence with actual history, when the Lumiere brothers come about with the final devastating blow to the conclusion.
I liked how in the first scene that hints at the wife's sickness, the bgm was leading into the dynamic inventing scene with a drumming sound that resembled the ticking of a clock. I believe it was intentionally done to foreshadow her death later.
The inventing scene itself was amazing. The camera was in constant motion, dollying around whatever it was capturing in the same counterclockwise direction throughout. In sync with the music, it heightened the mood of the scene, and instigated some nostalgia from what I had felt when I had been doing research and inventing similar to this inventor.
I loved the transition from retaking her footage in color to showing it successfully on screen. It was so smooth, I didn't realize the transition had taken place until he called out to his wife to come and see the success.
The visual effects regarding the death sentence were also remarkable. I have never seen that vaporization effect used to fade not only from one scene to another, but to also partially depict the graveyard in a euphemistic fashion in between the two scenes. That was a very unique method only made possible in this context.
Amazing short film indeed.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)