pauluswiggus Reviews

Quest of the Carib Canoe (2000 TV Movie)

Fascinating insight into an Indigenous Culture

[8/10 · 21 April 2024]

This short documentary follows the effort of a group of Carib people from Dominica attempting to build a traditional canoe, and sail it across the Caribbean, visiting islands on their way, to the Orinoco Delta and ultimately up river to Guyana, the birthplace of Carib culture.

This is a fascinating and intimate documentary that brings the audience into a place and culture rarely seen. The landscapes are beautiful, and the ancient cultural practices are both interesting and impressive. The goal to symbolically bring together the disparate Carib people by journeying to the various islands they now inhabit, and keep their culture alive, is also inspiring.

While the voyage itself is sometimes tense, overall this is a real feel good documentary, that simply showcases people embracing, enjoying, sharing and reviving their culture and heritage.

Sun City: Artists United Against Apartheid (1985 Video)

Behind the Scenes of a Protest Song

[8/10 · 21 April 2024]

This doco (also known as 'The Making of Sun City), provides a behind the scenes look at the creation of the 1985 protest song 'Sun City', and its accompanying music video. It's an extraordinary story of E-Street Band guitarist, Steven Van Zandt, gathering a huge and diverse group of musicians (including Lou Reed, Miles Davis, Pat Benatar, Bonnie Raitt, Joey Ramone and many more), to create the group 'Artists United Against Apartheid', with the explicit goal of boycotting 'Sun City' the largest resort/casino in South Africa.

The film really captures the passion of the artists, while also providing some confronting context of the racism and brutality of Apartheid South Africa. Unfortunately, this film was largely blocked from screening/distribution, due to its uncompromising approach which isn't afraid to point fingers beyond South Africa (including criticism of racism in the United States).

An inspiring documentary, which shows people of privilege doing something tangible to support human rights. As relevant now as ever, well worth seeing.

Without You (1946)

Gentle animated music

[5/10 · 18 April 2024]

This short formed part of the Disney package film 'Make Mine Music'. The soundtrack is a ballad of lost love sung by Andy Russell, while the images are a montage of trees, windows and starry skies.

There's honestly not a lot to this one. The images are pretty, but not terribly inspired or technically impressive as either art or animation. That said, there's nothing particularly wrong with the piece and at only a minute or two, it passes quickly among the other shorts in the larger package of films. Certainly not one of Disney's more impressive efforts, it does not stack up to the work in Fantasia for example, but otherwise inoffensive.

A Farewell to Arms (2013)

Lots of action, not much story

[6/10 · 1 March 2024]

This short, which forms the final part of the anthology film 'Short Piece', takes place in a futuristic Tokyo during World War 3. Human soldiers battle robots in urban warfare for control of the city.

Aside from the futuristic tech, this is essentially a war film, which follows the familiar trope of a small group of soldiers battling to survive. Some live, some die, they express their camaraderie. There's not much you n the way of character development, or even plot really. The large story of the war is not explained, nor is the specific nature of the character's mission. Essentially it's one long battle sequence, and while the action is well constructed, it's hard to invest when the stakes are so unclear. Would probably make a great 2nd act of a feature length film.

Visually impressive but otherwise the weakest film in 'Short Peace'.

Gambo (2013)

Short packed with Classic Anime Elements

[7/10 · 1 March 2024]

This short, which forms part of the anthology film 'Short Peace', tells the story of a Samurai who is enlisted to help protect a village from an alien monster who has crash landed nearby. Meanwhile, a giant white bear, who lives in the surrounding woods, also intervenes in the battle with the alien.

There's a lot going on in this film, which brings together several common elements of Japanese anime (samurai, sci-fi, mysticism) in an interesting, unique story, which focuses upon familiar themes of Japanese cinema (technology vs. Tradition). The artwork is high quality and there's enough action to keep this visually engaging throughout.

Worths seeing either on its own, as part of the full feature.

Running Boy: Star Soldier no Himitsu (1986 TV Movie)

More than just a long commercial

[5/10 · 13 February 2024]

This film was produced by Hudson Soft, an early video game company that produced Nintendo classics like Lode Runner and Bomberman. It follows a young boy who dreams of becoming a game designer, and gets his chance, only to have his idea stolen by a friend. This rivalry and the battle for justice (played out via video gaming) is the focus of the plot. The 80s was a 'golden era' for animated adaptations of children's toys, which dominated Saturday morning cartoons, and this is definitely in that camp (characters frequently play Hudson Soft games, particularly Bomberman). The art isn't up to typical anime standard, but the storyline is definitely more involved (although still short of genuine feature length) than a formulaic TV cartoon. While dated, the plot and relationships between the characters still resonate, but this is still probably more a curio for fans of classic video games.

Wandering Clouds (1982)

Fun, oddball anime

[7/10 · 3 February 2024]

Set at the end of the Edo period, this film depicts an unusual Japanese family. The father is a notorious womaniser who has little interest in work or fatherhood, and the mother seems to share his laidback approach to life. In contrast, the children are smart and ambitious. This quirky dynamic is periodically interrupted by trouble with the local samurai, which the father occasionally engages with.

The tone of this film shifts frequently, from cute family scenes, to violent sword fights, to mildly explicit sexual encounters. Overall though, the film is funny and certainly never boring. The animation is not as polished as contemporary anime features, much more akin to 80s television cartoons, but that never really detracts from the experience. Different and entertaining.

Tibetan Dog (2011)

A Familiar Tale in an Unfamiliar Setting

[7/10 · 1 February 2024]

A young boy is sent from his city home to stay with his father on the rural plains of Tibet. He soon meets a wild dog, and forms a bond of trust and friendship. There are countless films about a boy and his beloved dog (or deer, horse, whale, alien...) and this one certainly leans heavily on the cliches and sentimentality typical of the genre. However, the Tibetan setting adds a layer of interest, with a really strong focus on Tibetan culture and utilising Tibetan folktale/mythology. That, combined with the beautiful artwork, makes this an underrated anime feature which is gentle enough for young viewers, while maintaining a sophisticated approach that will hold the interest of adults. Not outstanding, but enjoyable.

Island in Between (2023)

Personal perspective on complex history

[7/10 · 25 January 2024]

Taiwanese-American filmmaker, S. Leo Chiang, returns to his parent home in Kinmen a Taiwanese Island only 10kms off the shore of Chinese mainland. The island has been at the forefront of tensions and occasional violence between China and Taiwan since the Communist Revolution, which has obviously shaped the lives of the inhabitants. Chiang provides an overview of this complex history as well as reflecting on his own childhood experiences and those of his parents.

This not a particularly innovative documentary, but for anyone with limited knowledge of the subject matter it's a fascinating entry point into a fascinating, albeit tragic, part of history that continues to have ramifications today. Well worth the 19mins.

Cinnamoroll: The Movie (2007)

Cute and fluffy

[6/10 · 22 January 2024]

This is the first animated adaptation of the popular manga series (a web-series was later produced). It follows the adventures of a cute puppy whose tail looks like a cinnamon roll (hence the name), who lives at a a cafe and is friends with a bunch of other cute puppies. Clearly this is intended for quite young kids, and on that front it's certainly no better or worse than American animated series like Care Bears, and perhaps less insipid than Paw Patrol. Anime fans might recognise director, Gisaburô Sugii, who has worked on many highly regarded anime movies and series, going right back to the original B&W Astro Boy. Those credentials don't really shine though here, but the animation is engaging and the story is harmless enough.

Momotarô's Sea Eagles (1943)

Cutsie Propoganda

[6/10 · 10 January 2024]

It's challenging to review a piece of clear wartime propaganda like this, especially when it's from the point of view of the aggressor. This short film (whose sequel is considered the first Japanese feature length animation), depicts the attack on Pearl Harbour, albeit by anthropomorphised animals. The enemy (Allied Forces) are presented as demons for the most part, although there is also a brief cameo from Bluto (of Popeye fame), as a more obvious stupid, fat, drunk American (presumably Max Fleischer was not consulted for copyright clearance). Presumably the film was intended to make the war palatable to Japanese civilians (and perhaps help parents explain things to children).

Leaving the content aside, the animation here is cute, without being overly impressive or groundbreaking. It's notably more in the style of early Disney or Fleischer than what we might typically think of as Japanese animation, although the light tone is in keeping with child friendly anime.

Clearly this is mostly of historical interest, not entertainment or artistic, but for that alone it's worth seeing.

About a Girl (II) (2020)

Great use of the short film format

[8/10 · 1 January 2024]

This short film shows a day in the life of a contemporary Egyptian woman. As she goes about her day and interacts with various people; mother, partner, co-workers, strangers, the film cuts to how she is perceived by others, demonstrating the variety of challenging stereotypes that women face. The concept is simple, and in a longer film would become repetitive and heavy-handed, but is the exact kind of idea that short films are made for. The production values, cinematography and performances are all high quality, making the film even more impressive. This is a great little film that suggests a talented filmmaker in the making. Well worth checking out.

The Reluctant Dragon (II) (1941)

Cute, with a message

[6/10 · 20 December 2023]

This animated short tells the story of a peaceful, friendly dragon who, with the help of a young boy and an aging knight, stages a fake battle to keep the myth of fierce dragons alive for the local villagers. There is a nice message about acceptance of difference and not feeling pressured to adhere to stereotypes that is pretty progressive considering this was made in 1941. The animation is cute, without being spectacular, and the overall tone is light and funny. Far from being a Disney classic, this is still a nice little animated short that has sadly been a bit hidden by how it was released (as part of a mostly forgotten 'compilation' film). Worth a look.

Captain Voyeur (1969)

Promising Student Film

[6/10 · 4 October 2023]

John Carpenter made this short while a student at University of Southern California. It's a fairly straightforward story about a peeping tom who puts on a balaclava and watches women through their windows. Shot in black and white, with minimal audio, the tone is suitably creepy. There's not much story, character or insight to this, possibly it would have been considered risque at the time, but it's otherwise quite conventional. That said, Carpenter's talent for visuals is evident, with the use of low-key lighting and dynamic composition making for a striking look to the film. Probably only of interest to hardcore Carpenters fans, who'll be duly entertained, otherwise just another promising student film.

Baba Amin (1950)

Feel good fantasy

[6/10 · 20 September 2023]

Baba Amin is the story of a Egyptian father who gets talked into a get-rich-quick scheme, which immediately goes awry. He then dies suddenly, and finds himself watching his family efforts to cope from the after-life. The premise is very much in the tradition of 'It's a Wonderful Life' or 'A Matter of Life and Death', which had both been popular a few years earlier. Director. Youssef Chahine, was known to admire classical Hollywood cinema, and his films were often described as imitating the work of Hollywood filmmakers. That is certainly evident here, in his first feature, but there are still hints of the individual style that he would develop later in his career. Certainly there elements specific to the Egyptian culture, particularly the musical numbers. There's nothing exactly original here, but Baba Amin holds up well against the Hollywood films of the era.

Przygoda czlowieka poczciwego (1937)

Classic Avant Garde Filmmaking

[7/10 · 15 September 2023]

This film loosely follows to men who carry a cabinet with a mirror on the side through a variety of locations. One of only a handful of short Avant Garde films, made by Polish artist and writer, Stefan Themerson, this is highly experimental (for the time), with a variety of visual 'tricks' used to distort images throughout,. The experience is comparable to many of the avant garde films of the 1930s and 1940s, a non-linear or surreal plot (if any), dreamlike imagery and often jolting juxtaposition. This film probably deserves more attention, as it's just as fascinating as a Maya Deren, Bunuel or Man Ray short. Worth a look for fans of experimental cinema.

Trás-os-Montes (1976)

Lyrical Ethnographic Docu-fiction

[7/10 · 15 September 2023]

This film explores life in the Portuguese region, Trás-os-Montes, a notably isolated area where long standing traditions have continued to thrive. The film depicts a deeply religious society, not exactly impoverished, but certainly a world without material luxuries. Ethnographic films can be fascinating, but also hard-work, and this is no exception. The narrative is disjointed, and the film blurs the line between documentary and drama throughout. The experience is reminiscent of Bunuel's early film, Land Without Bread, which has a bleaker rural setting, and also the more recent Portuguese films of Pedro Costa, set in the Fontainhas region of Lisbon. However, for those who enjoy cinema that gives insights into other worlds and other ways of life, there is much to enjoy here.

Lady of the Train (1952)

Odd mix of genres

[6/10 · 6 September 2023]

Lady of the Train tell the story of a successful singer whose is injured during a train derailment. Presumed dead, her gambling addict husband decides to claim her life insure axe to clear his debts, but soon discovers she has survived.

The setup plays like a classic Hitchcock film, and at times this film feels like a 1940s film noir. However, the tension is broken by the inclusion of musical numbers and long sequences of Roman tic melodrama. The overall effect is of a film that feels like it is trying to emulate every old Hollywood movie at once. It's not entirely unsuccessful, the acting is mostly good, the production value is high and the photography is striking. Still, the film ultimately feels disjointed and confused. An intriguing if not exactly enjoyable film.

Schaste vechnoy nochi (1915)

Solid Melodrama

[6/10 · 26 July 2023]

This pre-revolution Russian melodrama tells the story of a blind women caught in a case of mistaken identity with two brothers. The story is contrived, but fairly easy to follow, even without the aide of inter-titles (missing in some versions, Russian only in others). Those familiar with Russian films of the silent era might be stuck by how different this is to the revolutionary films of the Soviet-era, with a focus on middle-class characters and 'bourgeois' problems.

The production value is high, with impressive looking sets and costumes and the quality of the performances is good by the standard of silent-era acting. However, Bauer's direction is mostly very simplistic, with entire scenes playing out in on long wide shot. While that style was common in the era, innovative use of close-ups and cross-cutting were emerging, but unfortunately not in this film. Regardless, this is a solid piece of filmmaking from a talent early filmmaker.

The King of Ads, Part 2 (1993)

Collage of curios

[6/10 · 12 July 2023]

Hard to classify this film, as it's simply a collection of television commercials made by well known directors. It's also the sequel to a similar collection of commercials released two years earlier. The commercials themselves are generally high-end productions for prestige brands, so the tend to be 'high-concept' and 'arty'. The interest here lies in seeing the work of famous (mostly 'art-house') directors and considering how this overtly commercial work compares to their feature films. At times that quite fascinating, but it requires knowledge of the filmmakers work and quick thinking, as the commercials generally last less than 2 minutes. It's a shame the filmmaker didn't take the opportunity to spread the commercials out and provide some comparisons or analysis of each one, that might have been more informative, educational and even more entertaining. As it is, this is little more than a curio for obsessive fans of directors.

Profit Motive and the Whispering Wind (2007)

A Quiet Visual Memorial of Often Forgotten History

[6/10 · 27 June 2023]

This film is inspired by Howard Zinn's landmark book, "A People's History of the United States", which reframes United States History away from the traditional nationalistic celebration, towards an examination of economic, racial and gender inequities as well as healthcare, land management and labor rights. In doing so, Zinn brings to the fore a range of stories and people who had previously been ignored or under-appreciated. John Gianvito brings that complex work to the screen via images of the many, often obscure, physical monuments that celebrate or commemorate those people and stories. There is no narration and very limited written titles, rather the audience is asked to observe the monuments (often gravestones), read the inscriptions on them, and consider the environments in which they are located. The experience is divisive, tragic that many atrocities occurred, uplifting that people stood strongly against oppression and inequity, then tragic again that such people are rarely celebrated. Some viewers may be frustrated that the background details to the images are not provided, in many ways the audience needs to read Zinn's book to fully appreciate the film, but even for those unfamiliar with the details will be able to appreciate overall mood and message of this quietly emotional film.

From the Notebook of... (2000)

An experiment in meta filmmaking

[7/10 · 26 June 2023]

Originally made in 1971, then re-edited in the 1990s for release, this is very much a product of the experimental film movement of that era. The concept behind this film is highly self-reflective. Beavers takes as his starting point, the notebooks of Leonardo Da Vinci, particularly his focus on the city of Florence. Beavers sets out to capture on film what Da Vinci drew and described, perhaps to uncover Da Vinci's artistic process. By way of extending this exploration of an artist at work, Beavers incorporates his own process. Shots of Florence (and other elements explored by Da Vinci), are proceeded by Beavers own notes, describing how he intends to film (angles, camera movements, lighting, filters, etc.). Shots also often include glimpses of Beavers himself, emphasising to the audience that the filmmaker is always present.

This is high concept, experimental filmmaking. There is no story, no characters, no dialogue, just a montage of images, accompanied by ambient sound, exploring an idea. At a glance the film seems very abstract, but in many ways the process it follows is very literal, making it more accessible than a lot of experimental films. At 50mins, this probably outstays its welcome, but there is a coherence that keeps it watchable.

Cézanne - Conversation with Joachim Gasquet (1990)

Part memoir, part visual essay

[6/10 · 25 June 2023]

This short film, commissioned by the Musee d'Orsay to celebrate the artist Cezanne, is a complex piece that combines disparate elements to create less of a 'portrait', more of an personal essay. Straub and Huillet drew inspiration from Joachim Gasquet's book on Cezanne, and utilise letters exchanged between the two as much of the film's narration. The film also incorporates significant sections of Jean Renoir's 1934 film 'Madam Bovary' and includes a segment in Straub and Huillet's often used 'epic theatre' approach, with an actor reciting text in a emotionless tone within a still frame. Otherwise, the images on screen are largely stills of nature or paintings, with the narration providing Cezanne's musings.

There is much for an audience to take away from this film (and it's similar companion piece, 'Une visite au Louvre') but it is far from a conventional documentary, perhaps not a documentary at all. Those familiar with Straub and Huillet's work will be at home here, but others may be puzzled by the idiosyncratic approach. Challenging, but worth seeing.

What Goes Up (2003)

Abstract Animated Meditations

[6/10 · 24 June 2023]

It's impossible to provide a real synopsis of this animated short, it's an abstract art film, yet there is a cohesion and purpose to the montage of images that is only just out of reach. Like most of Breer's work, this is a mix of hand drawn animation, still photography and home movies, brought together to explore themes of; sexuality, technology and family, amongst many more. Perhaps mirroring the mix of images, the tone shifts seamlessly between hope and fatalism, narcissism and altruism. Ultimately there is an extraordinary amount going on in just a five minute runtime, which could withstand multiple viewings by a patient, inquisitive viewer. This is very much a throwback to the avant-garde, experimental film world of the 1960s, that probably seemed out-dated by 2003 when the film was released. Nonetheless, fans of experimental art film will be more than happy to spend five minutes on this one.

Une visite au Louvre (2004)

Cezanne takes us on a tour of the Louvre

[6/10 · 23 June 2023]

'A Visit to the Louvre', is Strab and Houllet's companion piece to their earlier film 'Cezanne', which are both drawn from letters exchanged between Cezanne and his friend, art critic Joachim Gasquet. Both films follow a similar format with narration drawn from the text of Cezanne's letters played predominately still images. 'A visit to the Louvre' is the more tightly structured of the two which, aside from an opening panning shot of the building, is composed of images of the art Cezanne is critiquing.

As a film, this is difficult to categorise, Straub and Huillet always actively worked against convention, even in terms of running times (this is an awkward 45mins). This is not exactly a documentary, it simply presents one person's perspective on a relatively small selection of paintings. That said, the idea of 'recreating', in a very constrained style, the experience of walking through the Louvre with Cezanne, as Gasquet did, is a fascinating one. That won't translate into a fascinating film for audiences beyond serious art lovers (and even they many lose patience), but as always with Straub and Huillet, the ambition is admirable.