Nothing like waiting until the last minute to see some Oscar contenders, but that I did, finally earlier this evening watching the live action short films nominated for a 2016 Oscar. The five films were mostly heavy, hard subjects with one endearingly lovely tale wedged in the middle. As usual, they were all very good. But I have my favorite.
Ave Maria (France/Germany/Palestine) begins the viewing. This film, set around the West Bank, has light moments as a Jewish family with too many stereotypes happens upon a Palestinian convent and its resident vow-of-silence nuns as the family is trying to make its way home to Israel. The beheaded Virgin Mary, the young Jewish woman’s touching attempt to repair her, the impatient young nun who puts her foot down in her own way all lighten the film. But underneath is this powerful subject of a family fearful of returning home and being mistaken for Arabs, sure that they would be shot on first sight. When you look past this lightness, that factor gives you that unwelcome shove into the deeper layers in the film.
Shok (“Friend”) (United Kingdom/Kosovo) is my choice for Best Live Action Short. Poignant. Powerful. The film, the darkest among the five, tells the story of two young friends, Albanians living in Kosovo when it was occupied by Serbia. Young boys are young boys, anywhere. Even in war-torn, devastating circumstances, they’re still young boys. And the two playing the lads here are charmingly wonderful. But war, violence, terroristic issues—those things can eventually stop young boys from being young boys. Those things can remove a childhood while removing a life or a family or an entire population.
I wasn’t prepared for the end of the film; it was harsh—some will say too harsh. Although I couldn’t stop the tears from falling down my cheeks, I kept it together otherwise. (I’m not sure I would have had I been alone.) But the most powerful part is not in Oki’s portion of the tale but, for me, it was in Petrit’s. Watching Petrit’s stoic strength in the face of the most horrible events is what caught deep in my chest, choking a sob kept at bay.
What touched me most with this film, though, was the concept of refugees. My thoughts bounced between the awful rhetoric that has been going on the past many months and a former student of mine, a highly intelligent young man who made his life to the US from Bosnia. From this sort of conflict. Who will add amazing benefits to our legal community. I cannot truly understand what the citizens of those countries have gone through. I can only know that humanity has a responsibility to them.
Stutterer (United Kingdom) provided some much needed lightness after the hard Shok. And it was perfectly delightful. I admit that I thought one thing all through the movie, but at the end, I almost clapped with joy that it wasn’t as it appeared. My conversation with my movie companion after the film highlighted this even more—so many of us are all, on our basic levels, nervous, insecure beings just trying our best to put ourselves out there for love, friendships, warmth, and community. Sure, we all have our individual things/issues/quirks/charms, but we’re equally nervous in spite of these things, not solely because of them. Although I wouldn’t expect this to win, it was my second favorite because it was so sweet. Warm. Charming.
The happiness continues only a short time with Everything Will Be Okay (Germany/Austria), which quickly goes from a happy father/daughter visit for this divorced dad and his daughter to a desperate thought-out plot he’s hatched and is carrying out, consequences be damned. This movie made me angry. Parents—yes, you who are raising your children not with the other parent: Stop. Being. Selfish. Watching this little girl (who did a phenomenal job) broke my heart. Seeing her have to try to comprehend emotions and issues and complexities no young girl should have to made my soul ache. Feeling the helpless angst of her father, though, pissed me off. The film was okay but not great. As the story unfolded, things felt too convenient rather than a story that weaves itself, transporting the viewer into a naturally-playing-out snapshot of these lives.
Finally, the short films end with Day One (United States). We learn at the end that this is based on the director’s interpreter’s story from his time in Afghanistan. It’s a good story. It tells a good tale. But it felt too contrived for me. And for that, it fell flat. (To be fair, I will admit the few folks talking so much so loudly during almost this entire short film was quite distracting. (To shush or not to shush; that was the question.) Also, I might also have been spent, having just felt such a range of emotions with the other four.)
If you’ve never watched the shorts, I encourage you to give ’em a try. They are creative, interesting, informative, and thought-provoking. And they’re great for shorter attention spans. ; )