Reviews

I saw Scrap as part of the Satisfied International Film Festival and it deservedly walked away with a handful of awards.

A tightly scripted film, expertly directed and with standout performances from its two leads (ably assisted by a strong supporting cast) it's a film that stays long in the memory, for all the right reasons.

It packs a real punch in its short run time and tackles the profundity of its subject without sentimentality or platitudes, presenting its characters as complex and multi-layered.

It doesn't spoon feed or sugar coat its message and leaves the audience hoping for a rewarding resolution. A film that's worth seeking out on the festival circuit!

Lilian screened as part of the Satisfied Eye International Film Festival (in a block of the Best of British short films) and provided a delightfully crafted introduction to a little known heroin!

Charting a slice of life of Lilian Bader, the first black woman in the RAF, Lilian is the sensitively directed directorial debut of actress Cathy Tyson and - whether by chance or construction - hearkens back to a style of cinema when the likes of John Mills and Sylvia Sims represented the heroes of WWII.

Buoyed by a snappy script, Lilian is a film that gives just enough of the protagonist's life to leave us satisfied, but hints at a much bigger story to tell. We can only hope that we see more of Lilian and her incredible tale.

I saw Bestia as part of a block of animated films at the Satisfied Eye International Film Festival and it deservedly walked away with the award for Best Animated Film.

From the unique animation style to the cerebral script and challenging imagery, it's a film that almost defies description - just like the very best works of art.

A sense of unease bubbles constantly beneath the surface. Bestia manages to reveal enough of the story behind Pinochet's dictatorship in Chile - and the life of one of his agents - that you come away wanting to learn more, but leaves enough to the imagination that the viewer is able to gather their own meaning from this brilliant piece of animation.

Of all the films I saw at the recent Satisfied Eye International Film Festival (where this screened as part of a Best of British block) Portrait is the one that has stuck longest in the memory.

It takes a brave filmmaker to tackle a subject such as this in such a unique and challenging way. Part drama, part documentary-style filmmaking, it takes the painful threads of truth from the subjects who provided input for the script, and weaves them expertly through the narrative.

In less accomplished hands, Portrait could have been both sententious and sentimental, but no such flaws for this expertly crafted film. From the excellent direction, stellar editing to the wonderful performances - again, a real accomplishment with an incredible ensemble of actors providing dramatic performances that avoid reconstruction bathos - it is a short which has the bite of an edge-of-your-seat thriller, while shining a light on the worst elements of the modelling industry.

Bravo.

I saw An Irish Goodbye at a packed out screening of the Satisfied Eye International Film Festival and it deservedly walked away with the award for Best British Short.

A true testament to what can be achieved in the short form, it's a film that captures everyone involved at the top of their game, from the directing, screenplay and cinematography to the wonderful performances. While the leads justifiably won widespread acclaim, An Irish Goodbye certainly proves the adage that there are no small parts, with the supporting roles expertly providing the perfect level of humour and pathos.

Like the best creative works, I was left sad that I wouldn't be seeing these adroitly formed people again and can't wait to see what the filmmakers do next.

I saw this as part of a block of shorts at the Satisfied Eye International Film Festival and it deservedly came away with the award for Best Foreign Short.

Equal plaudits must be shared by its lead actor and the director who both give incredibly accomplished performances.

The director, Lloyd Lee Choi - with the skilful support of cinematographer Norm Li - gives the perfect amount of breathing space to allow the action and cast to play out the story.

Limin Wang, in a lead role of few words, shines in a performance where much of what he conveys simmers beneath the surface.

A vignette of one man's struggles it gives us enough to be sated but still leaves us wanting more.

17 Minutes with Nora screened at the Satisfied Eye International Film Festival and deservedly walked away with some awards at its closing awards ceremony.

With perfectly pitched performances by both Alex Silleras and Isak Ferriz it's an expertly scripted and composed short.

Shining a light on a profoundly pertinent subject, it does so in an unshowy and sophisticated manner, giving the story and characters time to breathe and allowing the audience to connect with these well-rounded and thoughtfully evoked subjects in its brief run time.

With a nod to Ibsen's masterpiece - which itself tackled profound subjects in its day - it's a film in which all those involved can be justly proud.

Archibald's Syndrome screened as part of a block of comedy shorts at the Satisfied Eye International Film Festival and deservedly walked away with the trophy for Best Comedy Short.

From the wonderfully inventive opening to the rewarding finale it's a perfectly paced 20 minute film with stand-out performances from its two leads, wonderful production standards, all pulled together with expert direction by Daniel Perez.

Perfectly capturing the tone and style of the films and genre to which it gives a subtle nod Archibald's Syndrome is a short that is crying out for a feature length version and I for one hope to see more of this in the future!

Still Working 9 to 5 screened as part of the Satisfied Eye International Film Festival and - deservedly - came away with the award for Best Documentary.

A sharp, expertly crafted film it manages to adroitly balance humour with an important subject, very much in the same way as the film which it examines.

This highly accomplished piece of documentary-making skillfully weaves footage from the original film, archive footage and new interviews with the stars of the film, to put a spotlight on the original ambitions and challenges of 9 to 5 and considers how they are just as relevant and just as problematic today.

It's a film that deserves - nay needs - a wide audience, in order that it's important and expertly told message can impact as many people as possible.

Screened as part of a block of films by exceptional female directors at the Satisfied Eye International Film Festival, Lux Noctis was one of those films that had audiences debating long into the night.

A visually stunning film which was emotionally evocative, cerebral and whose powerful themes were underpinned by a constant sense of dread and unease, this was an incredible piece of filmmaking for someone so early in their career.

The director Damiana Acuna, who managed to overcome the challenges of the pandemic (which halted the entire project for some time and forced changes to the project) is clearly one to watch!

Finding Her Beat screened as the final film of the Satisfied Eye International Film Festival and was a true crowd-pleaser!

A wonderfully constructed documentary that is painfully relevant right now, it wonderfully captures both the individual stories of those involved and the wider context which is so important to the over-arching theme.

In a time when the drive for diversity and sexual equality are (painfully) slowly making strides, Finding Her Beat shows the power of the individual and the collective in an uplifting, rewarding and inspirational film.

Set against the backdrop of the pandemic, which adds an extra layer of tension and drama to the proceedings, it's a film which deserves all the plaudits it receives and it's impossible to come away without feeling an overwhelming desire to try taiko drumming for yourself!

The Pylon was one of 50 films I saw as part of the fourth edition of the Satisfied Eye International Film Festival but it was the one I was thinking about long after the screening had finished.

A visually sumptuous, cerebral piece of filmmaking that recalled the films of the likes of Lynch and the Coen brothers, The Pylon is an expertly directed film with a wonderful central performance.

The cinematography and soundscape combine to create a truly memorable cinematic experience and it's no surprise that the film walked away with both the Best Director and the Best Sound Design awards from the festival.

I watched The Censor of Dreams as part of a packed out screening at the Satisfied Eye International Film Festival and it was one of the festival's true highlights.

From the mind-bending opening until the end credits rolled, every frame was constructed like a perfect work of art.

The film walked away with a number of awards at the festival, and every one was more than deserved.

If you want an example of the perfect short film, where every single creative, from the cast, to the writers, directors and every department, are collaborating and showing what can be achieved when everyone is at the top of their game, then this is it.

A true bravura piece of work!

I saw this as part of a block of horror shorts at the Satisfied Eye International Film Festival and it was a film that wowed the packed audience. Working on multiple levels - as all good horror should - it's a perfectly constructed short with wonderful cinematography all glued together by an absolutely wonderful performance by the young lead actress. A film with much to say, it does it in style, wearing its themes on its sleeve, but with enough injections of horror to please everyone in the audience. I'm not sure what they put in the water in Australia, but at least half of the great horror films we saw this year were from the antipodes and this was no exception.

I saw this as part of the Satisfied Eye International Film Festival and W proves that sometimes the simplest stories are the most effective. Shot in one single take, W is ostensibly a vignette, a moment in time of a teacher's day. To say any more would be to take away the profundity of a film whose strength lies in every small detail, every sound, every moment of production design, right to the wonderful piece of music that closes out this perfect short. It's a bravura piece of filmmaking and shows the incredible impact a filmmaker can create in only 5 minutes.

I saw this as part of a block of animation shorts at the Satisfied Eye International Film Festival. Having already seen it on 'the small screen' it's a film that really comes alive in a cinema, the small details, the soundscape, adding to the powerful impact of a smart, incisive short. With themes that are painfully relevant today, the size and scale of the drama envelopes you in the dark confines of a multiplex and the underlying images of divided society and violence conjures everything from right-wing fanaticism to the recent BLM riots. It's a wonderfully structured and paced animation with a sense of foreboding always bubbling beneath the surface - like a warning. But all in all, there is hope and while it is so prescient, we can only cross our fingers that the sense of optimism shown onscreen mirrors the possibilities in the real world.

I saw this as part of the children's animation screenings at the Satisfied Eye International Film Festival and it was one of the highlights of the day. A beautifully realised piece of filmmaking that works on so many levels, the children were in awe while many a parent shed a tear or two. A visually rich and inventive film. Clever, sweet, and deceptively simple while multi-layered - much like its animation - it beautifully deals with mortality, death and loss. Its poignancy lingers long after the final credits have rolled and this is clearly a filmmaker to watch.

I watched Judas Collar as part of a block of films called Stranger Than Fiction (films based on fact) at the Satisfied Eye International Film Festival and it's that very non-fiction element that makes this story so remarkable. In reading the cast list (the names of the camels, from Sonic to Claudia) you could be forgiven for thinking this would be a light-hearted and frivolous film, but that couldn't be further from the truth. Expertly directed and with lavish cinematography, this incredible short manages to weave its moving narrative without words and with a caravan of camels as (almost) its solitary cast. Capturing the true scale and tragedy of this story, while conveying themes of loyalty, loneliness, bravery and sacrifice it's a perfectly realised film that leaves a mark on the audience long after they've left the cinema.

I saw this as part of an incredibly strong selection of animation shorts at the Satisfied Eye International Film Festival and The Fox and The Bird was one that stood out for all the right reasons. Beautifully realised, visually stunning and with a narrative that deftly balances drama, humour and pathos, it's an absolute bravura piece of work. I watched the film with a young audience who sat completely silent and transfixed - and anyone who has watched animation with children knows this NEVER happens! Every moment, every beat, struck the perfect note and it's a real masterclass in animation that appeals to both children and adults alike.

I watched this as part of a block of horror shorts at the Satisfied Eye International Film Festival and it was a perfect example of what can be achieved in short form. Tight, expertly directed, flawlessly performed and paced with sound design that keeps every hair on the back of your neck tingling, The Desecrated keeps you on the edge of your seat for every single second. The person sat in front of me watched most of the film between their fingers and at the closing credits you could sense the relief and release from the audience with the spontaneous round of applause. It felt very much like the opening scene of a feature film, in the best possible way, and I'd love to see what comes next .... although I'm not sure the woman in front of me would survive another 90 minutes!

Stigma screened at the Satisfied Eye International Film Festival and offered a powerful and painful glimpse into a little known (or perhaps unknown) story of those who were punished for refusing to fight for Saddam Hussein during his ultimately doomed regime. Suffering physical disfigurement and a lifetime of humiliation, these brave individuals were punished for standing up for their beliefs and for remaining on the right side of history. An expertly constructed documentary, it offers insight into a part of history which very few know about and, I am sure, is symptomatic of wars and conflict around the world - with countless untold stories of suffering. At a time when mental health is such a topical issue, it considers the terrible psychological impact of such torture and this is definitely a film that deserves a wide audience.

The Blue Bed screened at the Satisfied Eye International Film Festival and was one of those films that you were thinking about long after it had finished. An excellently directed film that bravely challenges our pre-conceived notions, it deals with a taboo and untouched upon issue in a very sensitive, compelling way. This is clearly an issue in a more free, western country, so it's eye opening to be party to how it must be perceived in a less open society. With a powerful and sympathetic performance by the lead actress, you feel her pain every step of the way, while the script manages to deftly juggle moments of humour and drama;that adds to the sense of truth and realism. A very clever film which warrants multiple viewings.

I saw this as the very opening film of the Satisfied Eye International Film Festival and what an opener it was. Quietly, compellingly, utterly devastatingly beautiful storytelling on screen. Lingering and so full of sub-text, Pilate is an absolute bravura piece of filmmaking where every moment and every silence is laced with meaning and heartache. So much is left unsaid, so many things left unfinished. And that is the whole point. A brutally honest rumination on old age and grief and family dysfunction, the lead actress is wonderful, ably supported by the cast around her. The score and cinematography are beautiful. I honestly couldn't stop watching it. I wanted to take in every second of what the camera was capturing for me, like admiring a great work of art in a museum.

I saw this as part of the Satisfied Eye International Film Festival and it's a testament to how incredible the story is that so many people came out of the screening discussing whether or not it had been a mockumentary or spoof. Expertly put together by Martha Shane, it's a brave film festival that puts on a documentary about how crooked some film festivals are; but it's a film that should really be seen by every single person in the industry. While the story seems far-fetched and incredible, there are many stories like it within the festival circuit. The skill of the makers of this documentary is in the clever patchwork of interviews, bringing them together and structuring the narrative like the kind of thriller Richard Castellano could only dream of pulling off. With a fascinating collection of characters in Narrowsburg and the film industry itself, it's a sad indictment of the power of film, Hollywood and the illusion of fame - not only over small town folk, but over those supposed professionals working within the industry.

As someone with a close friend who sits atop the autism spectrum this felt incredibly familiar and reassuring in the best possible way. I watched it as part of a block of animation films at the Satisfied Eye International Film Festival and this is certainly one of the films everyone was talking about afterwards. The animation style perfectly captures the world of someone walking the autism tightrope and a world that doesn't necessarily understand their desire for absolutism and order in the chaos. A wonderful, charming and effective way to explain how different minds work very, very differently, with the words neurotypical and neurodiverse becoming increasingly prevalent, this is a beautiful, non-confrontational way to explain one facet of this. The script was smart and funny and dealt with the issue in a non-patronising way. I now want to learn everything I can about Stukas!