Tag Archives: father and daughter

PBS Film School Shorts: Lambing Season and A World for Raul

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Lambing Season

I honestly was not expecting to like this film as much as I did.

Essentially, an American woman takes her significant other to meet her estranged father, whom she has not seen since her childhood. All she has is an old photograph, her ambition, and the hope that her father still remembers her. She comes across a man she thinks is her father, only to learn that her family’s secrets are more profound than she first thought.

A World for Raul * Content Warning *

While this film has a trigger warning, I grew to appreciate the story being told. It’s a practical story, a disturbing testament to life for some people, and it all boils down to what we must do to survive in a cruel world.

What stood out to me in this film was the power shifts occurring between the characters. The father brings his son along for a business trip because he needs him to entertain his boss’s son. The boss’s son assumes that he has power and authority over the boy because of his father’s position. Despite the boy’s predicament, he manages to do something I was not expecting. He keeps his trauma (and the boss’s son’s secret) to himself and instead uses it as collateral and further incentive for any current and future business deals. He had every opportunity to crumble, as the situation called for losing his pride and dignity, but he didn’t let it.

The film is very much fictional, but I understand that it is also based on real life. I do not condone business deals like this, especially ones that involve children in this way. I know it is doubtful that the employee knows about the boss’s son’s nefarious activities, but it also makes me wonder how long this has been going on? Also, what else has this boy endured until this point, considering his reticent demeanor?

Other Films to Watch:

Humpty

This film is about a man who takes extreme steps to prepare for fatherhood after his girlfriend gets pregnant.

G.I.F.T. Short Film Festival [19-22]: Dear Alex, Gratitude, Skeleton Of A Moth, and She Wanted To Be A Cowboy

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Dear Alex

A poetic film about a girl’s battle with the loss of her father: though it was not revealed if her father is still alive, it is apparent that he has been absent from her life for quite some time. You can sense her bitterness, as well as her hurt and anguish, due to this loss.

Gratitude

A sweet film about being thankful for life and the sacrifices that your parents have made for you: in the wake of the pandemic, the filmmaker has the opportunity to slow down and appreciate life.

Skeleton of a Moth

This is a complicated film that deals with young victims of SA. The girls speak about their wide-ranging encounters and the trauma they are now working through. The film makes a point to examine SA as a genderless experience that can happen to anyone. Though the film was produced in the U.K., the themes discussed are reciprocated worldwide.

She Wanted to Be a Cowboy

I instinctively gravitated to this film. This biopic about an artist’s emotional relationship with her pets goes beyond the usual satisfaction of pet ownership.

AAIFF: Ones To Watch Review

My Pumpkin, My Boo

I enjoyed the comic quality of this film. A pumpkin and a ghost forge an unlikely friendship through a shared love of what candy represents to the world. My greatest takeaway from the film was the need to find acceptance by finding your purpose, and through this, you can achieve transcendence.

The Black Collective

I love the moral of this film and its promotion of black businesses in California.

Lemons

This was a cute film to watch. I loved the creativity of the animation and the overall message of never giving up on your projects, even if the results are not immediate.

Poh

This film highlights the casualties of war, as told by a survivor from Laos. His sacrifices paved the way for his daughter to now accomplish her goals. This film is to honor him.

The Gull’s Shriek

If you are going to put your creative work out there in the world, especially in the realm of creative arts, you have to be comfortable with criticism. This film follows a girl’s struggle with navigating this reality while still holding onto her passion and sanity. In the end, her emotions get the best of her.

Beyond the Model

This is a must-watch film; it is well made and informative about current social issues plaguing minorities.

Gerald’s Bad JuJu *trigger warning*

This is a dark comedy film about what it feels like to grow up as a man sometimes: the endless expectations, the demands, and the inadequacies. While many men can push through it, this film brings attention to the imperfections of that whole process. I think this is a film that should be nominated for some awards if it hasn’t already.