2 more short films from UK writers / directors screened at this year's online Bolton Film Festival.
1. I Am Pilate - UK - Dir: Femi Oyeniran
In this modern-day retelling of the Biblical story of Pontius Pilate and Jesus, we are taken to the home of Pilate, the now retired Governor of an unamed state, as a journalist (from 'The Sentinel') is interviewing him in order to make sure they have all the relevant details correct and have his approval on such information as and when they need to write his obituray.
During this interchange the film takes various flashbacks to a younger PIlate and his altercation and dealings with a man named Alexander Newman - the modern-day representation and reinterpretation of Jesus.
Superbly filmed it has a much wider cinematic feel to it than the short it is at present. It feels 'epic' and after watching the film, you have the feeling you've just watched a full-length drama, and it was worthy and meaningful, although the film is quite unpretentious and doesn't take any sides or offer any opinion.
It's a clear and well observed film, and a very interesting idea, acted with conviction by Shaun Scott, Jamie Kristian, Kayode Akinyemi, and Jazz Lintott.
2. Anna - UK - Dir: Dekel Berenson
Filmed in Ukraine and spoken in Ukrainian (English subtitles), Anna tells the story of a middle-aged, impoversihed and bored single mother who has a mundane factory job and lives in the poorer part of a much larger city (perhaps Kiev).
She signs up for 'The Forgotten Love Tour' which is an event whereby bored middle-aged American men come over to Ukraine looking for a wife. It's a cattle market style 'disco' where the Ukrainian women and American men meet and where necessary translators are used. Anna is paired with a Texan redneck type, but the translator chooses to be very liberal and artistic with her translations.
However, before anything can happen in this very sad and gery looking love-matching process, Anna sees her daughter flirting with one of the men. Her daughter is of school age and has tarted herself up.
The film is slow and dull, and the ending is abrupt without resolution. The film starts bland and uninspiring and doesn't rise out of this state sadly. Even the disco, where at least the people ought to be trying to enage with each other is tired and monochrome, and no-one engages or smiles. I assume that this is an artistic choice, but sadly from the perspective of the viewer, there is nothing to hold on to, and our interest in the film wanes all too soon.
Reviewer - Matthew Dougall
on - 23/10/20
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