Shorts Program 2: Sculptured in Time

Short films have always gotten a lot of love at Raindance and this year is no different. Raindance's reputation for encouraging, finding and screening short films that show real art, tell penetrating stories and often affect more than feature-length attempts, is renown.

The UK shorts program was a fantastic display of the hidden talent that exists in the emerging filmmakers of England. An emotional affair which saw many seem spellbound while watching the screen reflects the depth and thought that is going into these shorts which are allowed more attention that some of the features.

In Shorts Program 2, there was ‘Wonder’ by Johnny Daukes whose Acts of Godfrey received great reviews at last year’s Raindance festival. The short takes us on a journey of relationships that come full circle during the short time we are observing them from the outside, while showing their innermost fears. The four couples have interwoven lives united in their relationship problems, their paths crossing at the point where everything could change. The cheating wife, the determined husband, the grief-stricken parents torn apart, the artist and his struggle for security in the relationship he’s in and the stereotypical would-be terrorist who changes turns his life around to return to the love that makes him happy – all the characters are presented fully-etched and developed in front of our eyes. We get to see them at a crucial turning point as they approach the moment where their lives are brought back into equilibrium. A thoughtful short which achieves a great amount in a limited time.

‘Anonymous’ is an interesting character study of someone who hires a male escort for company and is left all alone. The narrative is fine but it’s the elevation of character by what’s not said that really shines in this film. Consisting of only a few scenes, the director achieves a successful balance between storytelling and character insight as we learn that where emotions and relationships are concerned, we aren’t really in control.

‘Mercy’ is a Polish film about a woman who arrives in town with her two year old daughter to see a local parish priest. The shots inside the parish especially with the child are heartwarming and there’s a gloomy shadow that lurks over the woman and priest that makes everything clear when the true meaning of mercy is revealed.

‘White Square’ tells the story of a young boy trying to play with other kids his age in the country to no avail. He meets a mysterious boy called Sasha who befriends him and unites him with the other children but only temporarily as little is known about Sasha until he disappears.

‘Fangst’ is a gorgeously shot film with poetry that narrates a nomadic hunters conquests over the environment he lives in. This allows us to see some truly breathtaking scenery and events that transpose man and nature. When he begins obsessing over a woman in the woods, his being is challenged and we see what seemed like a bizarre sequence of events but on reflection were placed in order to highlight the power of attraction.

‘Romance’ is a love story by Chuck Palahniuk, the author of ‘Fight Club’ and ends the shorts program with a much-needed lift of spirit. It’s no accident that the shorts in the ‘Sculptured in Time’ segment are not mood-lifters as their subjects are emotion, journeys and humanity. ‘Romance’ offers a different take on the subject which is at times hilarious, sad, shocking and reaffirming. A mixture of voice over narration with gentle background music, the film takes us into the life of a man who encounters a woman he can’t believe is interested in him. He’s just lost his previous girlfriend and lacks self-confidence but not assurance. When the girl says she’s Britney Spears and parties like no-one he’s ever met he can’t believe his luck. Following their story ‘Romance’ has laughs and genuine “Palahniuk” moments that make you squeal and shock you out of your seat. The audience reaction was a fantastic way to end this shorts program and ‘Romance’ ends with a cute message that explains why people in love seem perfect. The film is like nothing seen before and the promotional material in advance came with a warning that would well have been heeded by some, especially during a notorious scene on a bus which had the entire audience laughing and gasping at once. Cinema experiences were made for moments like these.

Shorts Program 2: Sculptured in Time is repeated today at 13:00.