I wandered down to
the University of Toronto, Innis Town Hall, this afternoon to see a screening
from the World Wide Short Film Festival, which is playing here until Sunday.
The
screening was dubbed “Korean Film School Showcase” and featured 8 shorts from
students at the Korean National University of Arts. It would be fair to say Korea is producing some of the most talented directors out there these days, so you would think Korean film students would be right on the cutting edge. However, while there were a couple good films in this batch, overall I was disappointed. Films here were based on some pretty tried and true themes and visual presentations. My ratings below.
the University of Toronto, Innis Town Hall, this afternoon to see a screening
from the World Wide Short Film Festival, which is playing here until Sunday.
The
screening was dubbed “Korean Film School Showcase” and featured 8 shorts from
students at the Korean National University of Arts. It would be fair to say Korea is producing some of the most talented directors out there these days, so you would think Korean film students would be right on the cutting edge. However, while there were a couple good films in this batch, overall I was disappointed. Films here were based on some pretty tried and true themes and visual presentations. My ratings below.
| Painter |
| Two painters – one of art and the other of buildings – set wearily to their separate tasks. Although seemingly unconnected, the two painters become increasingly interested in each other, and soon their work, and ambitions, overlap. Rating: 2 out of 5. While visually interesting; the story was sadly predictable. |
|
Eclipse
A man
escapes the anguish of his reality by looking back upon the dreams of his childhood in this stream of vivid animation. Rating: 2 out of 5. It was like, huh? I’ll give it a 2 simply for the initial flashback with its animation and blue deers. |
|
Bravo! Mr Kim
The
aging Mr. Kim is penniless and under pressure from his landlord for overdue rent. After a valiant effort to raise the funds himself, he visits his son. But can he allow himself to become a burden to his family? Rating: 2 out of 5. This short had plenty of potential but was ruined by an afterthought ending…. did the students run out of money??? Well acted and beautifully shot, it shows what impact a poor ending can have on a movie-goer. |
| A Luminous Monkey – Cocore |
|
This stylish music video with seamless special effects features a
performance by Cocore, a famous indie rock band in South Korea. Rating: 2 out of 5. Essentially a music video with the lead singer walking a very long hallway with – literally – a head in his hand. Will he ever find the body the head goes with? Do we really care? Only redeemed because of a good song and the cute drummer from Cocore. |
| An Artistic Presentation of Metaphysical Butterfly Effect |
| A boy in search of his identity is helped by his unconventional Uncle, who introduces him to a way of thinking that illuminates the hidden connections between things. Rating: 5 out of 5. Proof some brilliant work is still being done in Korea. Gorgeous marriage of animation and live action. Funny, endearing, moving, wholly satisfying … and you just gotta love the title. The premise here is the six degrees of separation theme. |
| A Perfect Red Snapper Dish (Wan-byuck-han do-mi-yo-ri) |
| In this delicious black comedy, an anal retentive chef becomes a mad scientist as he conjures up a meticulously perfect dish. Unfortunately, it doesn’t go quite right the first time and he must try again – and again. Rating: 4 out of 5. Another winner. Ending a little hokey but the scenes prior to it make up for it. Good laughs and good cooking … well, sort of. |
| A Cat and I (Go-yang-iee-wa na) |
| An orphaned cat, rescued by a little girl, returns the favour when a family argument threatens to get out of control. Rating: 2 out of 5. Strange piece, perhaps better shortened down and used as an awareness campaign for children caught in situations of neglect. |
| Radio Dreams |
|
A special radio that enables the living and the
dead to communicate draws a diverse group of people together to converse with their dearly departed. Their longings, lamentations and regrets are played out, with unexpected results. Rating: 3 out of 5. A take on the Sixth Sense concept, where we realize the characters pulled together to speak with their dearly departed actually are the dearly departed. Friday is my next screening … a midnight madness of “creepy” shorts. Typhoons Dragon
Boating Practice + 2 days Sister team (read: B
team) to the most excellent Cyclones Dragon Boat Team, Typhoons held their first team practice Monday night at down at Ashbridges Bay.  I’m now 2 days out
from this practice and still have a couple muscles none to happy with me. Can you say epsom salt bath. Regardless, it was lovely to be out on the water – albeit exercising vigorously – as the sun set. My boatmates all seem great and Coaches Vince and Morgan know what they’re doing. One thing that’s
fascinating is just how different the dragon boat paddle stroke is from your typical canoe stroke. I’ve spent a fair amount of time backcountry canoeing in Algonquin Park and think my lazy J-stroke paddling habit will prove the most difficult thing to overcome.
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