Although not as wide-ranging in subject and contrast as the other strands of short film showcases in this year’s Fantasia International Film Festival, one senses that the creative voices behind the ones on show have tapped into classic traditions and ideas that always provide such an interesting manner of filmic expression. Destiny, fate, time-travel and virtual reality are covered in these works, originating from five different countries.
The sole Canadian entry, Be My Guest, focuses on the misuse of headsets and a desire to get to the heart of honesty in a relationship.
The American contingent of shorts began with Greater Good, in which a woman is visited by two representatives of a time-travel corporation who provide her with a strange conundrum which could affect the dynamic of her family. The next American entry, One Day The Sun Turned Black, is an intriguing analysis of the relationship between a man and a young woman when the sun does exactly what it seemingly does in the title. Exit Strategy focuses on two brothers who meet after a break of four years in a diner. The consequences of their relationship are scrutinised when one of them claims he can alter history, after the two of them go on a local drive and discover that certain things have to remain constant.
The sole United Kingdom entry, They Wait For Us, looks at the efforts of a hospital worker and his determination to help an elderly woman who has been placed in a coma after an episode.
France’s duo of entries began with Spin, the tale of a man living in an apartment block who becomes bemused and confused when he finds his existence called into question, particularly with the attractive female neighbour that holds the key to his future. The final entry, Exhale, focuses on a post-apocalyptic world when everyone seems to be wearing Personal Protective Equipment and having to deal with relationship issues and emotions.
While a few of the shorts are a bit hazy in their execution and some are a little contemporary for what people might classify as science-fiction, the concepts and ideas at the heart of these stories have some style and substance. It is always well worth checking out the short film works at festivals like Fantasia and Frightfest if you get a chance to attend. Sometimes you may discover a real gem that taps into significant voices and ideals that the creative force behind them want to share with the world.
