Three of the categories during the Oscar program that most people know nothing about are the live action, animated, and documentary shorts. Usually those categories are just marked as wild guesses on Oscar party ballots, with people taking a stab at who will win based on the title. But not any more! More and more advancements are being made to get these shorts shown in theaters and online (iTunes), so you too can take a look at the amazing stories these talented filmmakers have created.
Last week we brought you our choices in the Oscar Nominated Animated and Live-Action categories, and this week the nominees for the documentary shorts are being released. We here at VeryAware hope to clear up some of this gray area on your Oscar ballots by telling you a little about the nominees, who we think should win, and who we think will win. (Editors note: We will not be held responsible for you losing your Oscar pool.)
So let’s get started, shall we?
For reasons pertaining to rights and length, one of the five nominees, GOD IS THE BIGGER ELVIS, is not on the bill. And that’s a shame too, since this portrait of Dolores Hart - an early-’60s Hollywood starlet who became a nun - sounds fascinating and utterly enjoyable.
THE TSUNAMI &THE CHERRY BLOSSOM: (40 min) (Lucy Walker) Home video footage of the tsunami opens this soul-stirring and inspiring short documentary and grabs the viewer’s attention. The terrified townsfolk of a small Japanese village are heard crying and screaming as they witness this emotionally and physically devastating event. Their means and meanings of life are swept away in an instant. The horrific images are juxtaposed with footage of a beautiful cherry blossom tree in full bloom – the symbol of the ephemeral nature of life. They are a harbinger of spring and bring a sense of revival to the survivors. Heartbreaking interviews show survivors as they recollect the event, return to see damage, and rebuild in the month after. Nature has a terribly destructive power, but it also has a positive creative power. The film draws parallels between loss of life and the cherry blossom trees. “Old farewells and new meetings” Japanese schoolgirls say. Perhaps now the trees are a symbol of hope and endurance to the survivors. A smidge on the longer side for a “short,” it’s slickly shot and beautifully constructed. The lessons learned about the preciousness of life are ones we all should take to heart. 4/5
INCIDENT IN NEW BAGHDAD: (23 min) (James Spione) The injustices of war and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder are the subject at hand. This deals with how a simple government mistake can impact the lives of the soldiers who serve under the pretense of helping innocent people. One of the most notorious incidents of the Iraq War – the July 2007 slayings of a journalist and a number of other unarmed civilians by US attack helicopters – is recounted in the testimony of US Army Specialist Ethan McCord, whose life was profoundly and forever changed by his experiences on the scene. He witnessed the devastating carnage and found and rescued two children caught in the crossfire. Struggling with the ramifications of that incident, he became disillusioned with the war. Denied psychological treatment in Iraq for his PTSD, McCord returned home, and has since struggled with anger, confusion, and guilt. If this increases awareness and helps fund proper treatment for returning soldiers, then I’m all for it. It would have been nice to have more interview subjects but there’s only so much you can fit in within a short running time. 3.5/5
THE BARBER OF BIRMINGHAM: FOOT SOLDIER OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT: (25 min) (Gail Dolgin and Robin Fryday) Mr. James Armstrong has seen a lot in his 85 years living in Birmingham, Alabama and working as a barber. He keeps civil rights memorabilia up on the walls of his shop. History and a haircut… two bits! Taking place during our country’s historical Presidential election of 2008, the film interweaves old newsreel footage and interviews with historians and other members of the civil rights movement to give a proper backdrop to why this election was such an important and significant culmination of events. The film uses most of its time to compare and contrast how far the voting system has come since the black right to vote was first granted. Perhaps the biggest oversight here was that I yearned for more of a personal background on Mr. Armstrong. Why was his individual story so compelling? How did he impact his community? Show me, make me feel for this person who’s so rich in character and has been involved in and has lived through major historical shifts. Unfortunately, this short doesn’t given a well rounded portrait of its titular subject. “Dying isn’t the worst thing a man can do. The worst thing a man can do is nothing.” It’s great that his legacy will live on, but I only had wished this was more of a fitting tribute to such a great man. 3/5
SAVING FACE: (40 min) (Daniel Junge, Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy) Every year hundreds of people – mostly women – are attacked with acid in Pakistan. And those are only the ones that are reported. This HBO Documentary – which premiers on March 8 at 8:30 PM – follows several of these survivors, their fight for justice, and a Pakistani plastic surgeon who has returned to his homeland to help them restore their faces and regain their confidence. Not only are these attacks horrific, but the culture that allows the attacks and excuses the attackers give are even more frightening. The film’s strength is that it showcases their subjects as strong individuals rather than victims. This is an incredibly relevant and extremely hot topic that I believe will garner the most votes from Academy members. And rightly so. It’s a meaningful and monumental journey that goes straight to the heart and will leave you feeling haunted by their stories long after the run time. 5/5
Should Win:SAVING FACE
Will Win:SAVING FACE
The 2012 Oscar Nominated Documentary Shorts open in the US and Canada on February 17 (at the Monica 4 in Santa Monica. There will also be limited showing of the docs at the Playhouse 7 Cinemas in Pasadena and the Laemmle Noho 7 in North Hollywood). For more information on where you can see this stellar line-up, please visit: http://theoscarshorts.shorts.tv/locations.php
