SXSW Film

Reel Shorts II

D: various

"Death to the Tinman," directed by Ray Tintori, leads off this collection of short films. The film is an adaptation of the L. Frank Baum classic The Tin Woodman of Oz as remembered (somewhat wrongly) by the director's father. Shot in black and white, this is a very creative offering from the young director… "Clear Cut, Simple/Khayen," by director Vineet Dewan, is a thought-provoking exploration of the complex personal relationships in a war zone. The setting is Baghdad, and a U.S. soldier and his Iraqi translator discover how politics and friendship sometimes can't coexist… Sara Colangelo's "Un attimo di respiro (A Moment to Breathe)" features many wonderful shots of the beautiful Italian countryside. The story follows a man who feels trapped by small-town life and longs to get away. When he finally does, it doesn't go as he planned… The biggest cheer for all of the short films and features I've seen has gone to Jonathan Browning's "The Job," a three-minute film that plays role reversal, portraying what it might be like if white-collar workers were subjected to day-laborer treatment. Brilliant… "The Definition of Sex," directed by Peter Mervis, is a hilarious movie within a movie, following the struggles of an actor who is trying to determine whether or not he's lost his virginity – a concern that is affecting his performance. The dialogue is nearly perfect… Jamie Travis' "The Saddest Boy in the World" should be applauded for its use of color, and the film is a funny and touching one that tells the story of Timothy Higgins – a 9-year-old who is being crushed under the weight of suburbia and prescription drugs – planning an elaborate suicide at his own birthday party. Benjamin B. Smith's deadpan performance as Timothy is fantastic… "Happiness," by Sophie Barthes, is a comedy asking the question, "What if happiness were for sale?" An aging woman buys a box labeled "happiness" and struggles to decide what to do with it. A look at the myth of Pandora's box, this film reminds viewers that it is the little things that matter.

"Clear Cut, Simple" received a Special Jury Award in the Reel Shorts Competition.

1:30pm, Alamo South Lamar