There are many ways to go against the prejudices of one's peers towards one's background, colour, sexuality, opinion, demeanor and so on. Many therapy hours are directly linked to learning how to constructively deal with the load of oppression from the world. A well know other option is to invoke an attitude of cool 'aíre'. OR one could go for direct, aggressive opposition to anyone presenting anything that could be taken as critíque.
Dealing with prejudices as the premise for a short film is never easy. But this young director is not afraid of going into fantasy in order tom give a modern girl a chance to change her OWN views of her family's past.
____ SPOILER ____
The peek into past or future via time machine or looking glass often is the granting of an impossible wish (via magic or pseudo-science). Be it from desperation, sorrow, curiosity, greed or ambition - a barrier exists, which cannot be transcended. A past out of reach or a present not yet here causes the desire for knowledge, 'please give me understanding, please help me in my need (to know)'.
Political calculus is in play every time one accepts or rejects an action performed, an opinion voiced, a deed done, what ever the reason for acceptance or rejection may be. We MEASURE our own life on the basis of others' - but it takes a strong person not to rest our self-image on the perpetual rejection of someone or some thing we like or fear.
The gifted and self aware high school girl in this story cannot bear to share her past with her fellow students. She knows of the photos passed down to her - of family members allegedly of low repute - but suddenly her wish for deeper understanding is granted, via magic: She is given a peek into the past, and will in due course come to realise that her long dead relatives were humans like everyone else, not degenerates or hardened criminals or cold parents and spouses. Just people, victims of circumstance, in the wrong place at the wrong time, or exhausted by life, or less calculating than charlatans exploiting them. Regular people, whose lives are measured by the results of their ill fortune, and all other deeds and their general attempts at loving, caring humanity disregarded, suppressed or long forgotten.
Though the artistic level of the acting in this movie may be lacking and the script is un-honed as such first endeavours usually are, the director Ms. Collins should be commended for the portrayal of an essential idea in the battle against prejudice: 'Dig deeper, people!' is what she says. 'See more! Take a narrow perspective and make it broader! See more normal people and less headlines!'
7/10
Dealing with prejudices as the premise for a short film is never easy. But this young director is not afraid of going into fantasy in order tom give a modern girl a chance to change her OWN views of her family's past.
____ SPOILER ____
The peek into past or future via time machine or looking glass often is the granting of an impossible wish (via magic or pseudo-science). Be it from desperation, sorrow, curiosity, greed or ambition - a barrier exists, which cannot be transcended. A past out of reach or a present not yet here causes the desire for knowledge, 'please give me understanding, please help me in my need (to know)'.
Political calculus is in play every time one accepts or rejects an action performed, an opinion voiced, a deed done, what ever the reason for acceptance or rejection may be. We MEASURE our own life on the basis of others' - but it takes a strong person not to rest our self-image on the perpetual rejection of someone or some thing we like or fear.
The gifted and self aware high school girl in this story cannot bear to share her past with her fellow students. She knows of the photos passed down to her - of family members allegedly of low repute - but suddenly her wish for deeper understanding is granted, via magic: She is given a peek into the past, and will in due course come to realise that her long dead relatives were humans like everyone else, not degenerates or hardened criminals or cold parents and spouses. Just people, victims of circumstance, in the wrong place at the wrong time, or exhausted by life, or less calculating than charlatans exploiting them. Regular people, whose lives are measured by the results of their ill fortune, and all other deeds and their general attempts at loving, caring humanity disregarded, suppressed or long forgotten.
Though the artistic level of the acting in this movie may be lacking and the script is un-honed as such first endeavours usually are, the director Ms. Collins should be commended for the portrayal of an essential idea in the battle against prejudice: 'Dig deeper, people!' is what she says. 'See more! Take a narrow perspective and make it broader! See more normal people and less headlines!'
7/10