Change Your Image
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Reviews
Gasman (1997)
A girl's lifelong learning
The story is about a little girl learning the complexity of human relationship when she goes to the Christmas party with her father and older brother.
Throughout the movie, I was drawn by the focus of the camera. Most facial expression by characters is out of focus. I do not know the truth, but I feel like it gives the audience "blank" or "freedom" to imagine the characters' emotion by themselves. Especially, the father's face is hidden most of the time although he is in one of the important positions in the film.
I also like the way of clothing, which seems to express each character's situation, especially economically. For example, the main girl dresses fancy with the cute, brand new shoes and yellow tights for the party. Meanwhile, the other girl wears no tights in freezing cold winter.
Besides, the depiction of men and women are in contrast. Men look indifferent to what is going on around them, even the boys. On the other hand, women including girls fight, show their emotion by no words, but their gazes.
The Mass of Men (2012)
Powerful and shocking
The film starts overviewing the entire flow from the perspective of a security camera. Then the story processes by setting an old English man who is late for the appointment as the lead character. In the end, he regrets what he has done after he experiences the unexpected attack by a man forced with a nail gun.
I like the way how the film moves forward. Especially the two main streams, the crime prevention camera and the story of the old man, work well to make the audience draw into the movie. Besides the camerawork succeeds in setting the active question which motivates the audience to concentrate and reveal the answer for the first hand. "What is going on in this room?"
On the other hand, I thought some people might feel difficult to understand this movie including myself. It is because the audience is expected to know the background knowledge beforehand to enjoy this movie fully. The movie would be more widely accepted internationally if those cultural contexts are explained at some point during the movie.
Also, the use of a weapon is interesting in this short film. The murderous character could have a gun to kill people, but instead, he uses a nail gun. Thanks to his abnormally using the familiar-to-everyone equipment, the scene adds extra punch visually.
Spielzeugland (2007)
Breathtaking!
The story is based on the German history of Jewish persecution controlled by the Nazi. In the movie, the two boys keep their lifelong friendship because a mother's mercurial brilliance helps a child not to go to "the Toyland."
I like the story process of this movie, especially how she saves her children. The depiction of the mother, brave, wise and risk-taking woman is beautifully drawn in the film.
I was into the film the entire time; however, at some point, it was a little confusing to catch up with the story because of the complexity of the timeline. The flashback and going-on event or the past and present are back and forth in the middle, which may make the audience lost; on the other hand, we are successfully drawn into the cinematic world and feel uneasy, thrill or anxious as the character senses.
Also, I felt relaxed and comfortable at the end although the content of the movie contains heavy topic such as the Nazi control happened in Germany. It is because the beginning and ending are unified resonated together: two persons' playing the piano. Thanks to the beauty of the music, the movie appears as so elaborated and attractive!
The Lunch Date (1989)
A life turning point
The short film is about the story that an old, strong-willed and selfish woman changes her attitude after he has an unexpected lunch date.
To be honest, I am not a big fan of this movie because I could not see much change in the main character herself and the roles of supporting characters throughout the story. I thought the growth of the woman is little: just her facial expression. Also, I was not sure of what impact a black man who asks people for money appeared near the ending has on the woman although she has no money. If she had money and gave it to the man, the impression of the movie would be totally changed. Then the audience can clearly recognize "she changes!!"
On the other hand, I was impressed by the good tempo that the film creates. Especially, I like the lunch scene because it has a comedy aspect to make the audience giggle as well as the lead character's gradual development on her attitude.
I would like to watch this short film again to find discovery the characters themselves and understand the content deeply.
Born with It (2015)
Giving me great courage and power!!
The story is about the internal fight underlined in the lead character, a "mixed" boy when he faces the new environment. Eventually, he realizes the importance to accept his difference to others and believe in himself.
I really like this short film because the storyline is easy to understand and follow for the audience. Since the story setting is so simple and natural that ourselves may experience in everyday life, I could sympathize with the boy and feel like I am also a part of their world. Each scene is nicely connected together; for example, misled online information for the reason why the classmates think the boy is HIV. Also, the depiction of pureness that children usually have is great in the movie.
One thing that I was a little bit disappointed is the end of the film. I enjoyed the whole movie until the ending shows up; the way to close the movie seems to be weak and not satisfying. If possible, I would like to see how the boy overcomes and changes throughout the movie.
However, overall this short film is one of my favorite movies, and it gives me the courage to fight when I have difficulties.
The Crush (2010)
Pure and Lovely movie!
The story is about the first love of a little boy. He falls in love with a teacher in his school, and eventually, he saves her from getting married unstable fiancé.
The impression I get through this movie is "two sides of the same coin." The boy is truly in love with the teacher, which gives him two faces: the happiness that he can feel by communication with her and the hatred that he gets when he is crossed in love as if there is a thin line between love and hate. I was surprised that how a little boy is described in the film, like an adult. With that sense, I felt nervous whole the time for what he would do to keep his love. Overall, I enjoy this movie because the movie succeeds in filming the growth of a young boy with his first love experience.
Also, I think the way of visual storytelling is effective in this short movie. The main character's every single action has meaning, and it is nicely clear for the audience. For example, the passionate look he gives toward the cowboy poster tells us that he must respect a man who saves everyone from a bad guy.
J'attendrai le suivant... (2002)
Great but sad...
The short film starts with a depiction of a lonely woman in France. She never talks; however, we can see her emotional rollercoaster and the changes that she has throughout the movie. At first, she gives a look to lovers jealously with no smile on her face. After her listening to a man's speech on the train, her face is brightened. The excitement she has even encourages her to jump off the train with her expectation that good things wait in the next station.
From this movie, I feel the unlimited possibilities that lead characters have in a film. Again, the lead character, the single woman speaks no word. But from her facial expressions we can observe her emotional up and down. Also, by giving her longer film time, we can recognize the woman as the main character although the other characters speak more than her.
In addition, I think the short movie is stable probably because of the way its beginning and ending. The same music is used in the first scene and toward the credit roll; the woman's mental situation is also the same, disappointed and lonely.
A Moment (2012)
A meaningful movie to watch!
This film is consisted of four people's stories that seem to be connected with The Great East Japan Earthquake that happened on March 11th, 2011. The characters have hard time at first, but eventually they overcome and find their own way to go at the end.
I personally like the camerawork utilized toward the ending, where the editing works as if each character was in the same spot. Through the scene, I could feel the sense of unity for each separated storyline. Although few seconds later the characters walk forward in their own direction without communicating each other, which makes me sad but satisfied at the same time.
For me, the short movie was like a future mirror that would reflect my days to come in several years. The situation may be different for my case compared to the ones that they had in the movie, but surely, I would face difficulties at some point in my life. In that sense, this short film warns me that the hardship is coming and encourages as well as implies that the toughness will be over someday if I do not give up trying. The film means a lot to me.
Three Days in Kamakura (2012)
Various way of family
One day, David who works as an English teacher takes one school child, Jay to his house because Jay's mother does not show up to pick him up after school. Keiko, David's wife, suggests David call the police but he refuses and even wants to keep Jay since the couple has no child. After Keiko convinced David of police calling, Jay's father visits and picks his son up.
The film is good at providing information in various ways. For example, the movie succeeds in visual storytelling when Keiko takes shower, rejects David and touching the scars on her abdomen. It tells us the background information that she had surgery before, which must be related to her childbirth. That is why she looks upset and fear when David enters the bathroom. Keiko is traumatized by her past experience.
In addition, I especially like the way how the media contributes to introducing the story settings toward the audience throughout the film. Radio tells the train accident and TV newsreader in the restaurant mentions depression which seems to connect with the Keiko's psychological condition.
From this short movie, I learn how important indirect elements are to make the story flow more smoothly.
Father and Daughter (2000)
A love between father and daughter
The movie starts from a father and a daughter being apart after their hugging at the shore. The daughter keeps waiting for her father to come back as she gets older, but he never returns. At last, she goes to the shore as she has done every day for many years and finds her father's boat, then she finally meets her father.
The story is about a love between father and daughter, which is easy to understand and sympathize for many audiences. In addition, simple but beautiful pictures, calm and relaxing music, stable story setting allow audience to interpret the meaning of the film freely. I felt comfortable while watching this short movie and thought about one message. No matter where you are, a love with your precious one will last forever.
I watch this film remembering my parents from the daughter's perspective, but I will be able to see it differently next time, when I get married and have children. This may be also another amazing point about this movie that audience can enjoy the change of viewpoint as we grow.