Reviewing the German short film “Stranger at home” (2010)

First of all, this is a Hamburg Media School production. Having seen all the short films from the Hamburg Media School film class of 2010, I have to say that the short films being produced there have shown amazing quality and talent.

”Stranger at home” features Azad, a young Iranian man living with his family at an asylum for immigrants in Hamburg. He’s in state of toleration due to which he cannot find work nor leave the city. He keeps applying with no results other than the obvious: he is not permitted to work nor do anything. Azad gets more and more discouraged with the situation he is in. And when his German girlfriend wants to move to Berlin, Azad is put to the test. Will he sacrifice his family for his own freedom?

Now, honestly, when I read that the plot was on immigrants in Germany, I thought to myself that this would a very ”common” story, as to why life is so hard for immigrants by portraying various clichés. ”Stranger at home” really took me by surprise. The cast is terrific, in particular protagonist. The family set up and milieu is very convincing, because it appears. In particular Azad’s struggle with his own identity captivated me. The generation clash and feeling of not belonging neither to his own culture nor the country he lives in, and basically grew up in, really gets you involved and feel empathy for him.

Azad is constantly on the run, from the very beginning of the short film. His girlfriend and him run from the police, when they are discovered having sex at the beach. Azad runs away, his girlfriend follows and they cross the river in order to not get fined. And for Azad, in order to not having to give the police his document of state of toleration. He is afraid of being kicked out of a system that basically does not want him. He rides his bike fast, he runs away from his family.

The metaphors, the cinematography and the actors work really well in this short film. Also, the short film is set during the Iranian revolution emphasizing the struggle back at home as well as the current one at (stranger at) home. Being far away from home without being able to return to home, while being in a strange new home country.

In the end Azad is facing the ultimate dilemma having to choose between his family and his freedom.

This is female director Lenà Liberta’s sixth short film and, as I have just learned, being screened at festivals around the world. Lena Albertà has succeeded in approaching a subject that has been portrayed over and over again, in a manner that touches your heart, because of the striking reality of the universe and struggle her main character is finding himself in.

See it!

Director: Lena Libertà, Germany 2010, 23:30 Min.

Reviewing Piers Thompson’s “Lin” (2010)

”LIN” by Piers Thompson (2010) – 25 mins – UK

BAFTA-nominee and British director Piers Thompson has managed to put together a dream-like universe that you can’t help but getting sucked and, finally, plunging into free falling. And let yourself do so.

I was really curious about this film, as I was aware of its BAFTA-nomination. The 4-5 couple minutes had passed and I started questioning, why on earth this film had been nominated. It hadn’t captivated me so far and my attention was about to drift. Meaning, I was about to write ”Lin” off, but kept myself from pressing stop, as I felt too curious due to the BAFTA-nomination.

So, yes, this short film did not have me glued to my seat for the first few minutes, as short films should manage to considering the short amount of time they have to convince their viewer. But ”Lin” has its own pace and its own universe, and I am telling you, it works.

”Lin” portrays a woman, with no name”, wandering through an unknown and mysterious country. It appears that she is running away from her past from the little dialogue the audience is offered.

The film is shot on RED ONE and has one of the most amazing cinematographies I have ever seen. The locations are superb in undermining the mystery of the why, where and what. We are being disclosed very little information on the woman’s background and current doings as viewers. To me it appears that this is a deliberate choice Piers Thompson has made, for the dream-like universe he has created is supposed to carry every and each one of us away on our own respective journey. A journey of life, individuality, the meaning of what the meaning of life is. Based on our individual cognition while travelling along with this anonymous woman, while one slowly becomes that woman him-/herself. She is anonymous, so we can become her. Feel like her, see like her. If you let go, you will know, what I mean.

On her path with, seemingly, no narration nor goal other than to ”merely” escape, she encounters other people, who also remain strangers. At times her encounters seem so surreal and then again the intensity of them are just mind-blowingly real.

The story line seems to be random, if not unstructured, and the plot itself very unsual. But in the end, all the pieces fall into place and you get a beautiful mosaic that is as colorful as her journey. The journey of life.

Her journey ends at the same location as the film’s establishing shot. The circle has been closed. At the location, there is nothing there. The location is a void. But like the woman says at one time, she will keep going. She will the void.

One more thing, this review does not really give a lot away about the short film as to the events happening in detail. However, ”Lin” is very special. It is a mood piece and experimental in its form. You will understand Piers Thompson’s vision, if you see ”Lin”. I encourage you to get carried away. I hardly reviewed this film. Basically I gave you my personal interpretation and experience watching “Lin”. Nonetheless, that is what reviews are and are about, because reviews, are, subjective interpretations. Some more, some less. This one is my journey. Share yours with me!

Here is the trailer for you to see:

http://www.lintheshortfilm.com/trailer.html

This will give you an impression and, hopefully, better understanding of what I have tried to describe above. Also, the link offers more details on the cast, festivals, locations etc.

Reviewing “The Hunter” (2011)

“The Hunter” is an Australian production by director Daniel Nettheim’s. The Hunter is based on the correspondent novel by Julia Leigh. Willem Dafoe is the film’s protagonist in search of the supposedly extinct Tasmanian Tiger. Rumour has it that there is one left of its kind. He is hired by a pharmaceutical company to set out, before anyone else does, in order to get genetic samples of the animal and then destroy all traces of it.

Willem Dafoe’s character, Martin David, made a homo faber-like impression on me. His work counts. Rationality counts. He lives by those rules and he lives and works alone. Martin has an almost autistic need for the orderliness of his belongings and his physical cleanliness. Also, he has a routine for setting up equipment for and listening to opera. All these behavioral patterns emphasize that his life is a set of routines he clings to in order to manage life. Martin consciously chooses to be alone, as this is the only way he knows how to live by as his life actually passes by. Martin’s solitude is similar to the myth of that one singleTasmanian Tiger being left. Does it exist or is it extinct/lost?

Martin travels to Tasmania and goes out in the rugged and dirty wild to chase something supposedly extinct. While chasing something that seems to be “lost”, the lost person in Martin slowly comes to light. The film oscillates between the rugged and the equally rugged community Martin finds himself in, when coming to Tasmania. The hunt for the Tasmanian Tiger is not coming along and the community does not approve of Martin’s presence. Obstacles are thrown in his way and in the end he has to fear for his life. Just like the Tasmanian Tiger he is being hunted. Martin is the embodied allegory of the Tasmanian Tiger.

Despite the grim circumstances there is light. Martin’s only option of accommodation in a private home are with a woman and her two kids. During the few breaks Martin takes from the hunt in the wilderness, he sees himself confronted with life. His mindset slowly changes and the human being in him arises like phoenix from the ashes. The more the story develops, the more more doubts about the purpose of his mission seem to arise inside him. In his heart.

Daniel Nettheim takes the viewer on a breathtaking journey through the Tasmanian nature. The cinematography is stunning and the cast as well as the soundtrack are superb. Willem Dafoe’s character development is believable and well-paced. The film causes reflection on the impact humanity has on wildlife, the earth in general and also on one another. The only critical comment I have to make on this film would involve revealing the end. So if you relish a non-Hollywood plot in a non-Hollywood setting, I would recommend you to see this movie – for your own sake, in a theater. The mood of the film really absorbs you and so does the story. Personally, I felt that the 1:42 hrs flew by.