Life is full of coincidences – and of them is that I got to watch the short film “Sandman” just a few days after I started working temporarily as a lifeguard. The film itself made me reread my life-saving instructions and a bit nervous about my next day at work as there is some generally spooky feeling in it associated with water and drowning. For most coming-of-age fans the film would be mostly notable because of the appearance of Christopher Pettiet in the lead role.
Jessie (Christopher Pettiet ) is a young boy who wants to learn how to surf – going with his friend at the beach where the ” big boys ” do it. His mother is being overly protective ( for a reason ) and makes him wear a life jacket – which he does even after his friend tells him that he would look odd in it. Soon enough the boys witness a drowning incident in which a teenaged surfer dies – this accident worries Jessie and he has reoccurring nightmares about it . The film makes some references to the war in Vietnam and the family relationships – but they would be most likely picked up and understood by Americans as I myself remained a bit confused on their role in the plot.
Christopher Pettiet really impressed me with his acting and appearance . There was something very American in him and the whole film – or at least that`s how I felt while watching the film. The camerawork was good – and the surf scenes were well shot. I did not like the soundtrack much – but for a short film that is rather a minor thing.
The film Sandman is included in the CVMC DVD titled ” Sandman and other shorts“. I would like to thank them for their continuous support of theskykid.com. Another film from the same DVD reviewed on my blog is Apology to Josh Fleischman.
{Pettiet died on April 12, 2000, of a drug overdose in Los Angeles at the age of 24. After his death, his mother founded a scholarship fund in his name to help young actors attend the young actor’s studio where he had trained.}
( source: Wikipedia )
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rAABW7NCpQk