Stellar Short Docs at IFFBoston
Shorts Kenmore Documentary
This year Independent Film Festival Boston has an impressive lineup of short documentary programs. I will be sharing more festival highlights in the upcoming weeks, but I wanted to first spotlight the Shorts Kenmore Documentary program that has an additional screening on Tuesday, April 29 at 8 PM. This eclectic program of four shorts is graceful and moving.
“Simple Machine” directed by Sara Hendren and “Signs from the Mainland” directed by Michael Cestaro offer new ways of looking at disability that are empowering. The participant in “Simple Machine" is an architect who has become an inventor. He creates unique tools and designs to help himself live more independently with only one arm. This also incorporated fascinating black and white archival footage that helped illustrate the science of machine components like the use of fulcrums and levers.
“Signs from the Mainland” follows Martha's Vineyard resident Jeffrey Mansfield as he researches the history of a formerly inclusive community where both deaf and hearing people spoke American Sign Language. Mansfield worked closely with director Cestaro on the project by giving input on the story and how to make the film more accessible to the deaf community. During the Q&A session Mansfield spoke about the need for more utopian stories to inspire people to action. I really appreciated this remark, because I feel strongly that utopian stories can help us create a better world. We shouldn't accept the dystopian aspects of our society as inevitable.
The most stylistically different documentary in the program was “London, KY” directed by Cody Duncum. It is a reflective film essay about the director’s childhood community and family. The choice of on screen text instead of spoken narration added a haunted feeling to the empty rooms, yards, and buildings that are shown throughout. At first I did not care for the mostly static long takes of deserted spaces, but as the text narration continued, I found this simple approach to be very effective in conveying a deep sadness around the loss of family, friends, and childhood places. The empty school, family home, and graveyard are a vision of the world moving on without us or our loved ones.
My favorite short was “The Reality of Hope” directed by Joe Hunting, because of its creative approach and unique subject matter. When Hiyu needs a kidney, his friend Photographotter offers to travel across the world to donate his own kidney. Most of the story takes place in a Virtual Reality (VR) setting called Furality, which Hiyu and other programmers created. This VR world has breathtaking fantasy landscapes and anthropomorphic avatars that represent real people that are part of this international online community. It reminded me of The Remarkable Life of Ibelin, screened at last year's festival, which was about Mats Steen and the friendships he built in The World of Warcraft. I was surprised by how emotional I felt watching the struggles and successes of anathromorphic avatars. So many stories highlight significant family and romantic relationships, but this documentary is a powerful example of how friendships and community can be just as meaningful in our lives.