FILM REVIEW: Student Films #3 - Bolton Film Festival

3 more short student-made films from thsi year's online Bolton Film Festival.

1. The Sisters - Poland - Dir: Michal Hytros

In one of Poland's oldest convents, a group of elderly nuns carry out their daily life and work with increasing difficulty. They are becoming older and more frail and infirm, whilst the world around them moves at a pace they are truly not equipped to cope with, and the modern world is sometimes impossible to keep out; and yet, they try as best they can to continue their existence as unspoiled as possible.

It's a touching portrayal of a lifestyle that is all but lost to the vast majority these days. Even the TV on in the background seemed extraneous and wrong. Especially when the documentary choses to use only natural sound to highlight their isolation and quietude. There is also no particular aim to the film either other than to show us these aging nuns' quotidinal life; no sides are taken and no conclusions drawn.

It is a very sad film though: it is abundantly clear that several of these nuns are displaying signs of early and middle stage dementia, and yet they are still very much a part of the community and daily life.

Perhaps some of the subtitling needs further explanation for non-Polish auidences. I doubt if anyone who has not experienced it would understand what 'Wet Monday' is for example.

2. Fluffypunk - UK - Dir: Thomas Harman 

According to the advertsing statement for this film, then 'Fluffypunk' "documents the insecurities, instabilities and conflicts that plague the life of a performer; trying to balance the responsibilities of parenthood, artistic integrity, and personal happiness". If this was the film's aim it falls somewhat short.

What we do see is a very content, happy, and centred individual who has made a life out of being a performance poet. It documents how he started as a performer, his family life and we see short snippets of him on stage too. He is shown as being a very caring father, a loving if slightly unconventional individual who is deeply passionate about the responsibilities of parenthood and passing the right knowledge down to his children. He is politically motivated (most creatives are one way or another). It's a strong and very positive portrayal of the performer known as Jonny Fluffypunk. 

Perhaps his chosen stage name is the best clue to his personality of all: both soft and hard at one at the same time.

3. Redundancy - Iran - Dir: Kayvan Sarvari

This is a simple one minute long film, and so whatever needs to be said needs to be said quickly in order to get their point across; one minute after all is not a long time. However in this documentary film, the point of the film comes in the last 3 seconds, and it is absolutely the right decision.

We see a typical Iranian family at home, chatting about food, work, life. The husband receives a telephone call saying that as he is the most senior member of his section at work, he must chose who is to be made redundant. We understand that redundancy would mean no money for such a family, who are already very poor and trying to make ends meet, and so he is faced with a very difficult choice and being put in a position he does not want to be put in.

Reviewer - Matthew Dougall

on - 19/10/20