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Reviews
Hawk (2011)
Hawk-> A Short Film of Epic Proportions!
Following the legacy of fantasy films, Hawk portrays the coming-of-age tale of Rowan, who is raised by his grandfather (Gawain) in the wild hills of Snowdonia. Rowan has been taught from a young age to dismiss the modern world of humans in favor of an almost shamanic lifestyle, using the knowledge that has been offered to him from nature and from his ancestors. When Rowan disturbs the peace and balance of his environment, he has to pay the price in order to restore the natural order of things. The story plays with some very interesting ideas, some of which are particularly difficult to be translated visually unto film. The world Hawk aims to portray is one that operates on many levels. Deities and spirits from a supernatural realm appear to intervene in the natural world for the purpose of maintaining balance. Personally, I found the script maintained an underlying theme of 'origin and roots', which i think manifested itself into most of the elements that constitute this film. The film taps into Welsh culture, bringing in elements of mythology and folklore. The epic scenery of Wales is almost a character itself in Hawk since settings such as forests, meadows and caves are all integral to the script. Moreover, many Welsh artists were involved in the production, including the cast, musicians and crew. This helped Hawk define itself as a British film despite it's obvious references to foreign productions like Lord of the Rings or Pan's labyrinth. The cinematography and the visual effects in Hawk are of a very high standard. The color palette is so strong that it's possible for the spectator to get confused about whether what he is watching has been artificially created or not. I personally enjoyed the 'look' of Hawk, which i found fused the aesthetics of a mystical, otherworldly environment with the elements of a stylized, fantasy video-game. It is evident that Hawk is the result of a lot of hard work, coming from a lot of talented people. The film stands out as a British fantasy film and is a great contribution to the body of work surrounding the genre. Hawk is a short film of epic proportions.
Gin & Dry (2010)
Gin + Dry > An amazing bittersweet short !
Imagine spending Christmas eve in a care home with a bunch of old, bored and alcohol-craving folks who devise a plan to steal booze and indulge in the joys of being wasted . Gin and Dry is a perfect example of a bittersweet story, which carries itself light-heartedly, while an underlying message waits patiently to unfold. What I thought was fascinating about Gin and Dry was the fusion of comedy and drama, which is intrinsic to the story. Very few films depict old people as protagonists. What makes Gin and Dry genuine is the way it portrays the residents of a care home - almost like children. This not only helps the audience relate to the characters but also subverts any preconceptions the viewer might have. Albie, the protagonist, seems like the grandfather everyone would like to have. He is a gentle, stoic and wise guy, who seems to posses high moral values and always takes responsibility for his actions. We see him in the beginning of the film as he pours some gin for him and his wife Dee. Their dialogue is nostalgic as they both remember their shared memories from the past. Albie stands out from the other, more child-like characters and consequently becomes the driving force of the story. The production design in this film is incredible. While the film does not represent a care home realistically (the ones I've seen are much grittier); the various props such as Christmas lights, little ornaments and bottles of alcohol transform an otherwise dull environment into a colourful and interesting world. It seems like the shots were cleverly constructed beforehand, since each frame is visually pleasing with interesting elements in the background. In my opinion, Gin and Dry offers an interesting take on care homes and the ways their residents behave. What initially seems like an adventurous journey of mischief eventually turns into a reminder that sparks of life are present even in the dustiest and most forgotten places.