Shanece’s Compass Festival of The Worlds

Last week, I provided a glimpse into Casey Moore’s “Her Special Day.” The American short film recalled to mind Richard Donner’s 1976 classic creepy horror film, “The Omen.” This week, I bring to you four films that peak into the lives of real people. The films are profiles on the political woman, the poor mother, the destitute husband, and the activist.

The documentary “American Faust: From Condi to Neo-Condi” illustrates a different side of Condoleezza Rice than the one often portrayed in the media. The film is by no means pro-Condi. In fact, it is balanced between Rice’s successes and failures, strengths and faults. The profile is quite compelling and intelligent, transitioning between personal one-on-one interviews, video clips, graphic timelines, and photos. It eloquently presents the transformation of Condoleezza from a little girl growing up and dreaming in Birmingham, Alabama to a young woman thriving in her academic endeavors to the political powerhouse breaking barriers and setting new heights. After watching this film, Rice will no doubt become the new “it” woman of choice in college essays. Move over Hilary Clinton and Eleanor Roosevelt.

George Walker Torres’ “Maria y el Nuevo Mundo” follows a poor Venezuelan woman, Maria, throughout her daily life. The film is touching, sad and uncomfortable. The audience is forced to suffer alongside Maria as she struggles to make ends meet in order to provide a better life for her daughter Joanna. Torres intricately ties in the past and present, intermingling Maria’s life and the Venezuelan village. It provides the audience with an understanding of current situations through the lens of Maria’s experiences.

Young filmmaker Nelson Vasquez brings to life the story of his father in the short film, “On a Clear Day.” It moves with a poetic flare, incorporating a single tune that weaves in and out in the background. Vasquez quickly illustrates how his father Roberto lost his job and his family, leaving him broke and alone. In the end, Vasquez will have you pondering: If I lose it all in a day, what would I do? Am I prepared for the worst? The film carries the message that tomorrow is not a guarantee.

Finally, actor Jim Grollman takes a fresh look on a historical event in “The True Story Behind The Plot To Blow Up The Washington Monument.” Grollman gives an innocent look into the life of the man behind that plot, Norman Mayer. The film travels seamlessly back and forth between 1982 and the present with photos, news footage, one-on-one interviews, and televised interviews. All the while, Grollman is trying to provide evidence that Mayer was just a political activist wanting to be heard and recognized, and not a terrorist trying to harm the nation he loved.

Last week, I had the privilege to screen some of the amazing entries to the chashama Film Festival. And here I thought life after college would be boring! I just learned that those four entries were accepted into the festival. Exciting, right? I’m so impressed by how multicultural the festival is. Of the four films that I wrote about last week, “Marathon Beirut, For the Love of Lebanon” hails from a filmmaker in Asia, “But Some Are Brave” is from a filmmaker in Africa, “Ein weites Feld (Expansive Grounds)” was made by a filmmaker in Europe, and “Dirty Step Upstage” comes from a filmmaker in the USA.

Now that the films selected for the festival have been announced, I have the official green light to begin our chashama experience. Remember, I am serving as your awesome, all-knowing film guide. So, without further ado, here is a look into “Her Special Day.”

Written and directed by Casey Moore, “Her Special Day,” is an American short film that will send chills rippling down your spine. It’s not Freddy Krueger scary, but definitely “The Omen” (1976) creepy. The opening scene recalled a particular passage from Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein where the monster comes across a little girl playing by the lake. The film also opens with a little girl playing near a lake, and the entire time, I was half-expecting Frankenstein’s monster to sneak up from behind! Throughout the film, you’re bothered by an uneasy feeling that something is clearly wrong. I don’t want to say anything spoiler-y. I will just end off by warning you, that after watching “Her Special Day,” you will feel the need to constantly look over your shoulder  – and keep a close eye on your parents.

The best part of this job is that I get a sneak peek at some of the exciting entries to this year’s festival. This past weekend, I curled up on my couch and watched two documentaries, a short animation, and one feature film. I’m biased towards the horror/thriller genre, so my personal fave is “Dirty Step Upstage.” Director Amber Moelter keeps the viewer guessing: is it a real documentary or a fictional thriller? It reminded me of Jacob Aaron Estes’ gritty and brooding “Mean Creek” (2004). Both films share a sense of suspense and mystery that ooze through the films. The characters are ominous, secretive, and oblivious, driven by obsession, fame, and revenge. With all the proper thriller elements in place, a slow documented pace adds an underlying tension to the film. The visuals are supplemented by a soundtrack that is both memorable and infectious.

“But Some Are Brave,” an animated short, reminded me of the films shown on PBS. Grace Channer added raw and dark elements to her animation that would probably prohibit it from being aired on TV. Definitely more appropriate for a mature, adult audience. The short is vividly colorful with no dialogue, and the sounds recall the drumming often heard during folklore storytelling. Channer’s animation has the cool appearance of moving paintings. Without words, the viewer is left to interpret each scene in his or her own way.

The documentaries transport the viewer across seas to Germany and Lebanon. Gerburg Rohde-Dahl’s “Expansive Grounds” documents the construction of the massive Holocaust memorial in Berlin, Germany, and explores the current German perspective about the Holocaust. Behind the lens is the daughter of a Nazi supporter. The documentary provides a channel for her and other adolescents of the Nazi regime to express their disillusions and ignorance regarding the Holocaust. Like the massive memorial, the documentary represents another symbol for the German guilt.

Deborah Harse’s “Marathon Beirut,” also touches on political unrest and how people learn to cope. Footage and interviews illustrate the motivation behind the creation of the marathon, and how the love for Lebanon keeps the marathon going. This documentary inspires hope and demonstrates love for a country.