The first Wednesday of every month, a dedicated
team of people showcase a range of films for a gathering. You witness
everything from the conventional to the alternative; the traditional to the
metaphorical. This is an evening to celebrate the ever creative potential of
film and to talk, perhaps network, with other like-minded individuals. Indie Flicks
have an international reputation and in the UK they have short film screenings
in Manchester, Sheffield, London, and more. The first half of the evening gives
you an opportunity to pick your favourite film out of four different films. After
this, the director's choice of film is presented to everyone.
We started with Sabotage, directed by
Tina Novak, while it was visually striking to look at, it was rather
predictable. The music video-esque style looked all too familiar and there was
nothing particularly unique about it. A woman appears to be fighting her own
battles as well as fighting with her partner in a choreographed dance. The
couple fluctuate between holding each other close and pushing one another away.
I admired the monochrome, industrial aesthetic of this film: it enhanced the negative
themes of restriction and suffocation. There were some lovely film moments like
when his arms were wrapped around her, which looked rather striking; the shot
of them dancing in the reflection of the puddle, like their world had been
turned upside down but they tried to remain upright and afloat.
Secondly, Haven. A man beats up and
robs another man. The robber believes a young woman has witnessed the crime and
needs to make sure she doesn't go to the police. It turns out the women is
blind. Strangely, she walked along with her headphones on playing music, making
her very vulnerable. She was absorbed in her own world; in her own safe haven. To
me, it felt like the film was commenting on our detachment to the pain and
suffering that goes on around the world, maybe even around us too. However,
while it was an engaging premise, the film felt incomplete. It felt like
something should have happened next but it did not.
Then, it came to Swift. A woman discoveres
she can manipulate time or maybe she is just faster than everyone else. Deliberately
playing on film clichés and material inspired by movies like X Men, this was a
playful and humorous look into using your power to right wrongs and to save the
world. The special effects in the film were brilliantly crafted, especially the
slow motion shots. It was pure escapism, fun, and entertainment. The epilogue
is just great: the woman finds a special agent randomly sitting on a swing in
her living room, who wants to offer her the chance to work with the CIA.
Multifacial, a short drama about a struggling actor trying to find work came next. There
was a lovely false beginning to this film where you believed what you were watching
was real, but it turned out it was an audition with a casting director. For me,
the most interesting notions explored in the film were the pressure put on
actors/performers to be good at everything. Also, the tendency for casting
directors to see actors as a number rather than a person. The pivotal moment of
the film was when an awkward director stopped the actor mid-way through an
emotional monologue, presenting the lack of respect for an actors' craft, they only
seem to care about the business of casting the right person.
Finally, the last film was Forever Now .
I can see why this was the director's choice. The storyline was simple, you
could even say clichéed; a young couple are in love, but eventually they break
up. However, marry two incredibly talented actors with a wonderfully written
and emotive script and you get a poignant and brutally honest masterpiece. It
was instantly relatable and demonstrated how complicated, fickle, and messy
love really is. The relationship between the characters was utterly convincing,
showcasing the playful and teasing side to their relationship and the raw,
passionate side too. A series of flashbacks were triggered at the moment of
the break up, presenting past memories from their relationship. This was downright,
heartbreakingly beautiful. The past was warm and colourful and the present,
clinical and cold. Completely engrossing.
I highly recommend this evening to film
lovers everywhere.
Reviewer - Sam Lowe
On - 5/9/18
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