It’s not the first time I’ve watched and reviewed a documentary movie. If the subject matter is relevant to the site, the readers appreciate such reviews. That’s why, when I came upon the Danish short film 12 toner ned (12 Notes Down), I felt compelled to feature it on the site.
12 Notes Down (2008)
Balkanica LTD (2013)
“He wants to know whose side I’m on, so he can kill me, but in order to save myself, how can I figure out whose side he’s on?”
Have you ever been in a situation when one wrong action, one wrong decision could make the difference between life and death? In the short film, Balkanika LTD, that’s exactly the situation one boy finds himself in. The quote, above, is taken from a synopsis of the film on IMDb.
A tension filled narrative and a surprising ending – those are just two of the features of the Daniele Scarpi 2013 short film. The movie tells a story of the encounter between a young Croatian boy and an adult member of the Serbian militia. In a land torn by war and ethnic cleansing, life has lost its value. No one is safe, regardless of gender, age or appearance. The boy finds himself at gunpoint and forced to play the cruel game of survival.
Balkanika LTD makes an eloquent usage of silence. The musical score is only used in the opening scene to set a mood, a technique that allows the viewer to focus more deeply and enhances the dramatic impact of the scenes.
“Dramatic” is a word not powerful enough to describe the scenes in which a young boy finds himself in a life or death situation. Giancarlo Previati and Vladik Gnata deliver credible performances in a film which largely relies on appearance for the development of its characters. It’s impossible for one to remain indifferent to the story, as one continually wonders what will be the fate of the endangered child.
Alberto Marchiori, the cinematographer of Balkanika LTD, makes extensive use of reaction shots, which would not have been as effective if it were not for the expressive performance of the film’s small cast combined with immaculate editing.
Watch the entire film below:
The Man Without a Face: A Book Review
“It was the summer I was fourteen that I came to know The Man Without a Face.”
That’s the opening of The Man Without a Face, a book by the American novelist Isabelle Holland. Needless to say, the first person narrative won me over despite my suspicions of how credibly a woman author could address a memoir whose main protagonist is a young boy. But as I turned page after page my suspicion was replaced with appreciation.
Dry Rain (2008)
Dry Rain is a 2008 short film starring James Le Gros and Nathan Gamble. Based on the short story Dry Rain by Pete Fromm, Dry Rain tells the story of a father who steals his son from his ex-wife and crosses the border into Canada.
Gun Smugglers (1948)
Westerns – there are not many films of this genre with young protagonists in the lead roles. Granted, in a genre whose characters are predominantly tough men, for a young protagonist to be successful, it takes a distinctive script, good directing and talented young actors.
Frank McDonald’s 1948 film Gun Smugglers fulfills all of the above requirements. Starring child star Gary Gray (best known for his role as Tommy Blake in the original Lassie in 1951) – the film tells the story of Danny, a young boy who helps his outlaw brother and his friends to steal a cache of Gatling guns belonging to the US army.
Gary Gray is not the only star actor in the film. Tim Holt and Richard (Chito) Martin play the roles of two cowboys that intervene and manage to capture Steve Reeves (played by Douglas Fowley), the leader of the outlaws, and his younger brother Danny. Steve refuses to tell where his gang hid the stolen weapons – so the two cowboys decide to befriend Danny and find out from him the whereabouts of the stolen firearms. But Danny is no snitch….
Gun Smugglers has everything you could expect from a good Western – exciting fist fights, shootouts, horse-riding (here Gary’s skills really shine and no wonder since he got the role in the film largely because of his riding skills1). And, of course, no good Western is complete without a beautiful maiden (Martha Hyer). Granted, the killings in the film are a bit over acted – almost theatrical – but that is not atypical for cinema from that time period.
The performance of Gary Gary in the role of the mischievous tyke, who uses his cute and innocent appearance to his advantage, is undoubtedly on par (if not better than) the acting of the adult cast. Gary practically grew up in front of the camera, and by the time he was chosen for the lead role in Gun Smugglers he already had an impressive film resume with a ton of experience.
If you love Westerns, or are looking for one that young audiences would enjoy as much as you will, Gun Smugglers is a good choice. The script put some emphasis on moral values, as the two cowboys try to change Gary’s way of thinking in hopes of saving him from a life of crime. Personally, I cheered more for the mischievous side of Danny, hoping that he would keep on living as a young outlaw (yet that would have made this an entirely different film).
1.Growing Up on the Set: Interviews with 39 Former Child Actors of Classic Film and Television by Tom Goldrup, Jim Goldrup and Diana Serra Cary (May 6, 2002)
Film title: Gun Smugglers
Also known as: Revólveres Fumegantes
Release year: 1948 – RKO Radio Pictures
Director: Frank McDonald
Cast: Gary Gray, Tim Holt, Richard Martin, Martha Hyer, Paul Hurst, Douglas Fowley and others
13 ans (2008)
Falling in love – the universal rite of passage experience that can be both beautiful and confusing, and most boys feel pretty awkward in revealing their feelings. My 13 (original title 13 ans) is a delightful short film from France that gives a unique twist to the otherwise familiar first love narrative.
Sam Santiago Performs In The Philippines
2013 has been a thrill ride for Singing Sensation Sam Santiago from Irvine California! While Sam is always busy with weekend gigs, anthem singing for sporting events and large community events, this year invitations from prominent entertainment personalities for both radio and television increased dramatically! This media exposure has been a real boost in helping him get one step closer to fulfilling his dreams in the music and entertainment industry.
I Killer (2012)
Many kids (definitely the boys) go through some kind of an initiation ritual to prove worthy of joining a social group — be it just the “in” crowd or a gang. Mixing peer pressure, courage, and a willingness to put yourself at risk if that will help you impress the others – are all things many of us have experienced. I still recall a lake with an island in the middle, an island that everyone had to swim to regardless of his aquatic skills — to prove worthy of being a … friend. Such an initiation ritual is the focus of Francesco Calabrese’s short film I Killer.
Ivan Noel Announces Next Film
Compelling stories, outstanding performances, striking visual imagery, and Ivan’s own music to seduce the viewer, these are the characteristics of an Ivan Noel film.
“I want a coming-of-age tale that is full of heartbreak, beauty, life, purity, and raw emotion. Well, they don’t get much more raw than in Iván Noel’s films.” – 7 capital films blog
Those films include: En Tu Ausencia, Brecha, Primaria, Vuelve, Limbo and now, Ivan’s sixth film, They Returned.
They Returned is a beautifully touching, yet unnerving story about the unexplained disappearance of three children, two boys and one girl, and their reappearance three days later in a semi-autistic state.
Introducing Jeans Boys
Full of vibrant energy, cute as buttons and super talented – they are Vlad and Mishka from the Russian musical duo Jeans Boys (Джинсовые Мальчики). They met online while playing a game (I suspect Minecraft) and decided to form a band. With upbeat and modern music – just like Barbariki – they can make you smile even if the weather is gray and rainy.
Their fans are mostly kids, but also (as is written on their official web-site) adults who have not forgotten their childhoods. Recently there is a lot of children’s music that adults can enjoy. I certainly do and that helps me put a smile on my face, instead of being grumpy or stressed.
Jeans Boys recently released a playful video clip of their hit single Freeze! Move. (Замри! Отомри). With over half a million views in less than a month, it’s becoming clear that there is a lot of demand for positive and modern vibes with a beat that gets you moving! The clip features a racy cheerful character, but you can see for yourself:
For now, the boys sing only in Russian (even though in the clip of Freeze! Move they sing one, two, three in five languages). But with such simple to follow lyrics, I doubt the language barrier will prevent anyone’s enjoyment. Both Vlad and Mishka live in Moscow and attend schools with musical curricula. They have already released a CD featuring thirteen tracks – described as mischievous, playful, dreamy and charged with sincerity. It’s available on their site.
For more information about them, check their official website where you will find links to all of their social media ( Instagram , Twitter , VK…etc)
The First Man (2011)
The First Man (original title Le premier homme) is a film directed by Gianni Amelio. Based on an unfinished autobiographical novel by the French author Albert Campus (he died in a car accident before finishing his work), it tells the story of a French writer who returns to Algeria in the midst of a revolution against colonization.
4 Days in May (2011)
Can the events that happen in a four day period change a person? How about if the four days in question are those before the end of the World War II?
I had almost given up on the possibility of watching an original take on the events that took place in World War II. Yet the narrative of 4 Days in May (a co-production of Germany and Russia) turned out to be emotive and devoid of clichés and stereotypes. It’s a story of honor that deserves to be told.