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
I agree this was a very good movie. I saw it at a friends house, who's father was a videophile. I later met Chris and was too young to realise that even famous kids have problems. I found out through Dino that Chris had many ghosts that few of us knew about, his homosexuality and drug us were a couple. He was though one of the greats.
This is actually a student short from USC (I believe) from Director Jeffrey Fine who went on to do other stuff ion the industry. Christopher has just competed Point Break and Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead. Many upcoming actors jump at a chance to work for free on these student shorts to add to their portfolio. This is one of Christopher's best and a very haunting film…