Short Film Review #29

ET IN MOTORCADIA EGO! from Tim Plester on Vimeo.

The ‘other’ 50th anniversary of the weekend was of the assassination of JFK and released with impeccable timing, Et in Motorcadia Ego! tips the hat to the huge place that that event occupied in popular culture. Written and directed by Tim Plester (and adapted from his own full-length play), it takes the form of a spontaneous dream-poem and performed by the intensely magnetic Kieran Bew, it is something spectacular. Plester’s camera loves the bearded Bew, but mixes shots of his recital with flashes of dream-like imagery to create something visually stunning and combined with the viscerally rich poetry, this is definitely recommended.

Waxwing from Tim Mercier on Vimeo.

Tim Mercier’s Waxwing is a thing of delicate but definite beauty. A glimpse into the life of a young birdwatcher but also into the scariness and wonderment of contemporary childhood, it uses an ace soundtrack from Ben & Max Ringham (with a titles song from Imogen Heap no less) and a near-wordless script to focus on its hauntingly beautiful imagery and always-compelling story.

You can get the password for this from here and it is worth it, for this light comedy by Richard Herstek about the trials faced by Paul Ready’s writer as his magnum opus – 9 years in the writing – is finally submitted to his publishers. Anna Madeley and Tom Burke as the literary agents nudging him along and sticking their oars in are huge fun, there’s a little cameo from the lovely Annabel Scholey and it’s all shot with a contemporary brightness by Nicole Volakva.

 

Written by Anna Ingeborg Topsøe and directed by Mahalia Belo, a friend pointed me towards Volume as he knew of my love for the film Lantana, of which this definitely feels like a spiritual cousin. Teenager Sam lives in a swanky place indeed but one where its cultured rich inhabitants brush everything and anything vaguely difficult under the carpet and so when beautiful neighbour Georgina goes missing, they all act as if nothing has happened. But being deaf, his powers of observation are enhanced and delving back into his memories, he begins to piece together the little clues he missed first time round. The film looks luscious, extended underwater shots particularly stunning, and a quality cast including Melanie Jessop, Jamie Sives and Jake Davies make it a most intriguing watch. 

 

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