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Tell us what you think >>
Selected submissions will be posted here, so check back regularly.
3/6/06
Washington, DC
I thought all five of these short films were well done, although if I had to pick a favorite, it would be Miracle Mile, with Raftman's Razor second, so I'll comment on those two.
Raftman's Razor was a really wacky trip with lots of stuff thrown in out of left field that I found hilarious. I was never a comic-book geek as a child, but I had my share of obsessive pursuits, so I could understand the two boys' irrational fascination with the Raftman comics. (Nowadays they would be called "fanboys.") The series of scenes featuring the boys in various settings shuttled the plot along nicely, sort of like serials of a comic strip. And the bizarre ending to the comic caught me totally off guard, yet in retrospect it seemed to fit perfectly with the surrealistic nature of the film.
Being a child of immigrants, I felt a kinship with the character James in Miracle Mile. Though not adopted, I know what it's like to have a disconnect in one's family: I have not had any real relationship with my relatives back in the motherland, mainly because of the language barrier. In this film, James is hoping to find a bridge back to his Korean roots and to the blood relatives he never knew. Such a desire is common not only to many adoptees, but also to immigrant children such as myself who have become Americanized yet feel a sense of incompleteness because of the interruptions to their family heritage caused by immigration. Both protagonists in this film do a fine job of conveying the universal human longing for family and community, as well as the need to connect with our past in order to help us make more sense of our present.
Someone else wondered why James would confuse someone else's home with his own from childhood. I can suggest one possible reason: his family moved away before he was old enough to remember the address or other details about his house or the neighborhood he lived in. But it is odd that he didn't ask his adoptive parents about his childhood. Was he not on speaking terms with them? Or worse, were they no longer alive?
Another thing that confused me: how could James be so fluent in Korean, when he was adopted as a little boy into an American family that presumably did not speak Korean? Maybe he had learned some Korean words prior to his adoption -- but most adoptees of foreign extraction lose command of their native tongue due to disuse. Did his adoptive parents somehow teach him Korean? Did he pick up the language from Korean-speaking friends?
I know I shouldn't expect the characters of a short film to have fully developed back-stories, but I think that in general, questions that affect the credibility of the plot should be addressed in some way. I hope that the maker of Miracle Mile does a better job of fleshing out the characters in his feature film, which I am looking forward to seeing.
2/10/06
Jenny Shao
Davis, California
Independent films created on a low budget place a limit on time or length of a story, and leave a lot of scenes or potrayals of an idea to be vague. I watched Miracle Mile, and it is unclear why James would confuse someone else's home with his own from childhood. People usually remember the specific location of their past residencies, even if they were adopted, unless they are severely traumatized. Overall, this is a neat story with a wonderful ending, and the characters act so powerfully that the audience can make a connection to them, except one. The woman, Jiyoung, is too timid and docile to be traveling to a foreign country all alone. Her childish drawl, drooping head, hesitant speech, delayed movement, and languid footsteps don't portray her as someone who is eager to be meeting her brother. Her body language tells the audience that she couldn't show aggression or defend herself if her life depended on it. Her going back home gives this heartwarming story a good ending.
2/1/06
Robert Bryant Lock
Albuquerque, New Mexico
I think every one of those stories are excellent. Each has a real sense of purpose and transcend time. Thank you for bring us the Short Stack and hopefully there will be more to come.
1/3/06
Saw "SHORT STACK: Lost and Found" last night, and was blown away by the beauty within each story. The different spin on friendship as characterized by each clip is refreshing and heartwarming.
"Raftman's Razor" is visually well done, with a natural flow between animation and real-life. What a wonderful story of growing up with a good friend and sharing a secret you both 'get'.
But certainly the gem of the lot has to be "John and Michael". This is the most heartbreaking story I have seen in a long time. Wow, where to begin? The story - of two less fortunate souls, finding comfort and happiness in each other, to lose that connection in short order, only to find that love and friendship lives beyond here and now - is timeless. The narration was tender, heartfelt but never once sappy or patronizing. The visuals - clay figures backlit with the most expressive paints and tones on glass, and the overall patina - nothing short of pitch perfect. I was in tears before long, and I suspect partly it had to do with knowing how this clip would haunt me for days after. Hope so much to see more work by the director and producer.
1/3/06
Vincent De Francisco
Columbus, Ohio
Loved the short Miracle Mile. Just when you think you know the ending, Director/Writer Hwang throws you for a loop!
1/3/06
Rafael
Chicago
I thought that Miracle Mile and The Raftman's Razor were both excellent films. I particularly enjoyed that Miracle Mile had great camera angles and fantastic lighting. Also the Korean dialogue added a unique dimension to the film that defintely makes this film great. And The Raftman's Razor captures perfectly the bizarre world that teenagers live in. The obsession, the stupidity, and the disillusion of main characters could not have been better.
12/29/05
Yvette Arell
Houston
Thoughtprovoking...captivating..phenomenal rhetoric the Raftman's Razor is a marvelous short which engrossed mind with concept of life I never took into prespective.
12/29/05
Amber Williams
I loved the Raftman's Razor. I really appreciated the random activities of the two brothers. It added so much.
12/28/05
Nick Virgilio
Arlington, Vermont
My wife and I caught the Lost and Found short film program last night. We were was so blown away by all the films content, style and messages we sat there fixed to the screen for the whole program at times, not able to breathe.
John and Michael was so touching I will have a hard time expressing my love for the film. As a designer I could really appreciate the monochromatic tinting the film possessed and the clay animation created such a wonderful dreamlike feeling. The story was so touching and the narration was so beautiful. My Uncle Peter has down-syndrome and I could really relate to the characters. When the film ended I looked over at my wife, who was also in tears and she said "that was so beautiful". As I sit here the next day, trying to get work done, I cannot get the image of Michael making a snow angel out of my mind, not that I want to.
12/28/05
Vanois Queen
Colorado Springs, Colorad
I really enjoyed this program. All the short films were beautiful!!!!
12/28/05
Aaron
Los Angeles
Miracle Mile, I thought, was far too obvious. However, turns out I had no idea where it was going. Well done; well written, well directed, well acted and great camera.
12/28/05
The Raftman's Razor was very interesting. Is there actually a comic called The Raftman's Razor?
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