FILM REVIEW: Culture Vulture #7 - Bolton Film Festival

2 more films shown under the banner 'Culture Vulture' at this year's online Bolton Film Festival.

1. Cinderella Games - UK - Dir: Jessica Wright

What is the story of Cinderella? Oh yes, a young daughter made to be nothing more than a slave for her stepsisters and stepmother, who, with a little fairy magic, manages to become the belle of the ball, and have the prince fall so much in love with her that he searches far and wide until they are reunited again.

In this original dance piece only certain themes from the Cinderella story were capitalised upon. The story here, filmed on location in London's Royal Albert Hall, concerns a rather bizarre and somehow more reminiscent of Alice In Wonderland style tale of a mad and rather strict 'master' commanding contestants in a live game show to compete against each other in a series of bizarre challenges, overseen by the master's yellow boiler-suited invigilators. The three challenges set were to find the shoe blindfolded; then to keep the shoe on your head whilst gyrating, and then against the clock find the shoe a second time. There was only one winner to complete all three tasks, and this was of course, Cinderella. For her troubles she is rewarded with a certificate. Disgruntled by this, she leaves both certificate and shoe on the steps, and leaves.

Of course, this narrative could be interpreted in several ways depending on what imagery or allegory you wish to superimpose upon the story. Or maybe it's just a story...! Do you want to live happily ever after? asks the openiing sequence to the film, to which the answer is obviously in this context, yes. Are the shoe and certificate are all she has to show for her chance at eternal happiness?

Directed and choreographed by Jessican Wright and Morgan Runacre-Temple the cinematogarphy was lovely, and the movements and character interactions clever and well interpreted. The piece overall was very enjoyable, but seemingly, on the surface at least, without substance. And once again, the whole piece had a much more Lewis Carroll-esqueness to it than Cinderella, despite the Cinderella parallels. - and using the music of Prokofiev's 'Cinderella'!

The two principal dancers were Matthew Hawkins (master) and Chihiro Kawasaki (Cinderella). This short film is very watchable and enjoyable, and expertly realised.

2. Exhale - Ukraine - Dir: Igor Stekolenko

Daria Polunina plays a heavily pregnant woman driving alone down a lonely and deserted highway with no sight of any habitation for miles. She starts to have convulsions, needs air, and as her waters break, and as she starts to give birth she uses whatever she has on hand to help her in the process, lying on the back seats of the car.

The handbrake however comes loose and as she is lying there screaming and giving birth, the car slowly meanders down a dirt track coming to an abrupt stop as the open door hits a tree. .

Natural sounds and the inclement weather throughout help to build mood and tension in this film, but as the film is without dialogue and seemingly its only purpose is as described above, the film lacks any narrative drive and one quickly loses interest. 

Reviewer - Matthew Dougall
Cinderella Games first reviewed on 21/7/20
Exhale reviewed on 24/10/20