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Contemporary drama, young boys, Québec - My review of this year’s Oscar-nominated live-action short films

These are all remarkable short films with top-notch storytelling and audiovisual technique. Read more below to learn which one I would have voted for!

Four of this year’s five Oscar-nominated live action short films contained stories with young boys in extremely dramatic situations. Be prepared to feel emotionally drained after watching them in succession. Unlike previous years, there wasn’t any comedy, only heavy stuff!

The first film, called “Madre” (Spain 2016), begins with a long shot of a beautiful empty beach. The action then moves on to an apartment in a city where a woman and her mother are having a casual conversation until they receive a phone call from the woman’s six year-old son. The film takes a dramatic twist as we quickly understand that the boy has been left alone on a beach by his father and no one is around him. The film takes place in the woman’s apartment, we never see the little boy alone on the beach. It’s reminiscent of the recent Danish film “The Guilty” in which a police dispatcher deals with an abduction and we follow the story from where he is in the call centre. We only hear the phone conversation with him. The audience is left to imagine what is going on on the other end. “Madre” succeeds in getting us into this dramatic situation, the actors convey their stress perfectly and the end credits are dramatic and unique in their own way. It’s a clever film but in the end it didn’t fully live up to its setup.

8/10

The second film, called “Fauve” (Québec 2018), is one of two Canadian films nominated this year. It’s visually intriguing as it takes place in a deserted mine.The filmmaker uses the grey, dry, muddy at times, surfaces to tell the story of two young boys playing within this scenery. Just like “Madre,” the film takes a sudden twist as the two boys play in the grey mud and one of them becomes stuck, gradually sinking in something reminiscent of quick-sand. The first half of the film was intense and perfectly directed but I can’t say I enjoyed the second half as much as the music was omni-present turning into an obnoxious presence. The acting by the two boys was incredible.

8/10

The third film, called “Marguerite” (Québec 2017), is the second Canadian nominated film. It’s the only film of this program that doesn’t revolve around young boys. It’s a snapshot in the life of an older woman, Marguerite, who lives alone. Every day, for an hour or so, a nurse comes to her house and takes care of her health and her sanitary needs. It’s a simple set-up. At first I wondered why I should care about this old woman but the story gradually reveals something about Marguerite which is unexpected. The film had grace and ultimately was about love. I found this film to be more touching than the violent dramatic situations explored in the other four films.

9/10

The fourth film, “Detainment,” from Ireland (2018) was the longest of the five films. I would call it the Pièce de résistance of this program as it seemed to be in a category of its own. It had the most complex editing, the most number of actors and it was the only period piece. The film is based on the true and horrific story of two 10 year-old boys who, in 1993, abducted a toddler who was later found dead cut in half over railroad tracks. The film never shows any gruesome images but is a reconstruction of the interrogation scenes between the police and the two boys. It gradually reveals more and more details. There is a lot of crying by one of the boys and his parents. Despite not showing any details, our minds can’t help but imagine what must have happened. It’s a powerful and very disturbing film. In the end, I was not sure what the point of the film was. Was this film made so we never forget what happened? Or was it to show how terrible humans and even children can be? There is no lesson, no take away which surprised me. Was this just a gratuitous reconstruction? Is it because the two boys are now adults and have served their sentences? I was also a bit disturbed by how the film’s director managed to make one of the young actors cry so much. Is it acceptable to manipulate a young actor into feeling that way? Or is that young boy such a good actor? In the end, should this film be considered more of a documentary reconstruction rather than a piece of fiction based on real events?

Again, this film is in a category of its own. It raises many questions which I wished were addressed. Perhaps there is a reason why this film was made 25 years after these events. Is just to celebrate that anniversary? Is there more to it?

9/10 and 1/10

“Skin” (USA, 2018) is the final film to centre around young boys. Unlike the other films in this program, this film shows us gruesome violence. The film takes its time to introduce us to a group of white supremacists. The word is never pronounced but you know that’s who they are. In that group there is a dominant muscular-tattooed-alpha-male and his girlfriend who have a young boy. The film takes a sudden twist when the father attacks a black man only because he saw his son smiling at the black man in the supermarket. The attack on the black man is all the more revolting as the black man’s wife and son watch the scene unfold before their eyes unable to do anything without any help from the authorities. It’s extremely dramatic and disturbing but the film then takes on a sort of “Pulp Fiction” turn which I won’t reveal here. It makes the film more tongue-in-cheek than “Detainment.” This might be the film that will win as it is timely and powerful.

9/10

My vote, however, would go to “Marguerite.” It’s a great example of how a film doesn’t need to be visually dramatic to be strong. It’s subtle. It’s also on a timely topic which needs to be talked about until it’s completely accepted. But most importantly, it was the most touching film of that group.

See all the films here: https://shorts.tv/theoscarshorts/ or in Toronto here: https://www.tiff.net/events/oscar-shorts-live-action-2019/

Seen with Douglas, Vidya and Ed on February 11, 2019

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The Immigrant and Refugee Mental Health Project

Happy to have filmed, edited and created graphic animations for this introduction to a much needed and great mental health initiative by CAMH.

CAMH is the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Canada’s largest mental health and addiction teaching hospital and a world leading research centre in this field. 

Canada welcomes thousands of immigrants and refugees each year. Learn more about the project here: IRMHP-PSMIR

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“Astrophysics for people in a hurry” by Neil DeGrasse Tyson

Since this book is meant for people in a hurry, I didn’t even read it. I listened to it as I drove to work. Needless to say that there were times when I had to disconnect from Neil DeGrasse Tyson smooth voice to focus on my driving.

I discovered Tyson just a few months ago after watching the ridiculous Zoolander no 2. Yes, he makes a brief appearance as do so many other celebrities in this catastrophic sequel to a first film that had a cult following. He appears in the film in a scene in which Katy Perry also appears. 

Anyway, that was my introduction to Tyson.

Last week, when I searched for available audiobooks on my digital library account (https://toronto.overdrive.com), his book showed up. It was read by the author himself which is always more entertaining than listening to someone unenthusiastically read.

Not only is this for people in a hurry, it’s also short. Or so it felt as I listened to it over just a few hours.

It’s brief overview of astrophysics. The big bang, dark matter, spheres, Einstein and his theory of relativity, chemical elements, all these feature prominently. Everything that hovers above us, below us, in between and the yet-to-be-discovered are discussed. The book doesn’t feel dry, Tyson keeps things as simple as he can without introducing any overly complex theories but some concepts flew over my head.

Sorry for the pun but Tyson gives us here a 10,000 foot view of astrophysics. If that’s what you want, then you will be pleased. If you are hoping to be enlightened, well, you might be too.

The last chapter puts things in perspective. Tyson definitely thinks highly of Astrophysics. The exploration of how Earth works and all the mysteries of the universe are fascinating. If science can continue to uncover some truths as it has in the last 500 years, that is very cool and potentially life changing.

Would I recommend this book? Mmmm, not really, unless you really were clueless about astrophysics.

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The head and shoulders formation of a stock

I filmed Jennifer Dowty against a green screen with a Canon 5D Mark III. Jennifer explains a financial term to describe a stock chart trend. I used illustrator to create the graphics and did all the editing and animation in Final Cut Pro X. 

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5 young Rohingya refugees adjust to life in Canada

At the end of 2015, it was amazing an experience to follow and film for a couple of days these Rohingya refugees and see how they were adjusting to life in Canada.

Produced by Hannah Sung - Filmed by Julian Liurette

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The 2018 Oscar-nominated short films once again excel: my review

The five nominated live-action short films for this year’s Oscars are once again outstanding. They grip you by the throat and leave you emotionally shaken after 15 minutes. Oh, how I wished there were more films like these. In a short amount of time, these film pack more punches than most feature-length films or series.

If I had to vote and choose only one of these five films, I would vote for Watu Wote (All Of Us) directed by Katja Benrath and Tobias Rosen of Germany. It’s so gripping that the 22 minute-long film ends up feeling like five minutes. Based on a real event, the story takes place between Somalia and Kenya in 2015. We follow a woman who takes a bus to cross the border. It’s a 31-hour-long journey. The bus is supposed to be protected by the police as islamist extremist groups target Christians and at times Muslims. This woman we are follwing is Christian. Her husband and child were recently killed by extremists. She is bitter and despises the Muslims she travels with on the bus. After an overnight stop, the police car breaks down and the bus continues without protection. In the middle of a long desert road, the bus is assailed by armed extremists who search the bus for Christians. The muslim woman sitting next to the christian woman hurriedly gives her a hijab to wear and hides the rosary she had in her hands. Everyone’s panicking as the extremists shoot those who help hide christians or who avoid denouncing them. I won’t tell you how it ends but although dramatic, there’s a hopeful message in the epilogue. It’s cinema at its best: powerful storytelling with great acting and strong emotions. It also has a beautiful musical score. 10 out of 10.

If had to choose a runner-up, it would be: DeKalb Elementary, directed by Reed Van Dyk of the USA. Like Watu Wote, it’s based on actual events. It’s very timely as as I write these lines another school shooting happened just days ago on February 14, 2018 in Florida. This story takes place nowadays in a school reception area where a chubby young white man has calmly walked in with a Kalashnikov. He tells everyone it’s not a joke. He shoots in the wall to prove it and tells the staff to leave except for one receptionist. He says he just wants to shoot police officers, not kids. He asks the receptionist to call the police so as many officers as possible come to the school. The young man says he has mental issues. At one point, he even aims the Kalashnikov at this mouth, he hesitates to shoot himself. The receptionist is constantly on the phone in communication with the police as she relays what the man wants. The receptionist tries to connect with the man and tells him it’s hard for everyone. She herself went through hardships she tells him. She almost committed suicide herself a year ago after her husband of 23 years left her. The man gradually changes, becoming more and more unsure of what he is doing. He says he doesn’t want to do this anymore. He wants to go to the hospital. The story constantly keeps you on edge as you don’t know if he is going to actually shoot or not. The most surprising and poignant moment happens at the end. It’s hard not to be touched. It’s a simple film: just two characters in one location, no music, no grand camera angles, no gimmicks. Yet, it’s riveting, and again, so powerful. 10 out of 10 

The third best film is The Silent Child directed by Chris Overton and Rachel Shenton of the UK. A female tutor is hired by a family that has several children including one hearing impaired girl named Libby. Her parents want her to be like everyone else so they want Libby to learn lip-reading. The young tutor instead teaches the 4-year-old girl sign language. This frees the little girl who becomes animated and lively. She also becomes very attached to the tutor. The mother, however, is convinced that her daughter will be treated differently if she uses sign language. So the mother halts the sign language training the tutor was giving. The ending between Libby stuck in a school yard on her own surrounded by kids who are playing and the tutor who tells her I love you in sign language is beautiful. The film credits end with some not-very-well-known statistics about deaf children and how sign language is often not recognized as a language in schools around the world. At that point, the film feels a bit like a public service announcement but quite understanbly the filmmakers want to pass on this message. The film reminded me of Trevor (1994) that won for best short film. It launched the Trevor project that still helps LGBT youth to this day and was originally back up by Ellen DeGeneres after she saw the short film. (And, in case you haven’t seen Trevor, watch it here.) The Silent Child feels like a film that can have an impact just like Trevor. I give the film 9 out of 10 as the relationship between the tutor and Libby was touching but the parents’ story felt contrived and not as strong. 

The fourth best film, and the one that could win the Oscar, is My Nephew Emmett directed by Kevin Wilson, Jr. of the USA. It could win because it talks about racism between blacks and whites. In these Trump’s presidency years, when white supremacist groups seem to be growing - or at least - seem to be more present, and because the Academy awards have had hard time recognizing more African American stories and people, it seems a logical choice. It’s based on a true story. It’s told in a slow - and at times mysterious - but gradually intense fashion. The story is set in 1955 when a young black man from Chicago is visiting his uncle’s family in Mississippi. We learn from another black man that he has whistled at a young white woman. The uncle senses trouble and sure enough in the middle of the night, an armed white man and the girl’s boyfriend come searching for Emmett, the young man from Chicago. The film avoids showing us how Emmett was killed. But it smartly ends on the real footage from 1955 when Emmett’s uncle recounted the events to a reporter. The final credits are beautiful. It’s incredible we continue to learn about these horrendous white-black stories that took place, and still take place in some areas. That a man can feel superior to another is probably the greatest downfall of human society. I give the film 8 out of 10 only because the pacing of the film felt too slow at times and the acting by the white man lacked the subtleness and power of L.B. Williams who portrayed the uncle.

Finally, the film I would place is fifth position is The Eleven O'Clock directed by Derin Seale and Josh Lawson of Australia. Unlike all the other films, it’s a lighter story. The film has no other pretense but to be witty - or so it seems. In the 1970s, a psychiatrist welcomes a new patient who says he is a psychiatrist himself. Actually, that patient believes to have just walked in his own office. The movie plays on truth: You think you know who is who until you get confused just like the characters themselves. It’s skillfully done but it felt just too clever in the end with no real emotions. It was nonetheless a really well done film just like the other four. 7 out of 10.

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Jane Goodall won’t retire

I filmed and edited this interview a few years ago for the Globe and Mail. Her words are still as relevant now as they were then.

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Best and worst films of 2017

Some argue TV - for lack of a better term of the mish-mash that is Netflix shows, TV series, Youtube content, etc. - has taken over. I still think films rule. There is something to be said about focusing your attention for five minutes on a short film or for three hours on feature-length one. Series are too fragmented (unless you binge watch!).

So, without further ado, here’s my list. What do you think of it? 

1 - Best film of the year

“The Square” tackles so many issues around the decline (?) of western civilization: from poverty, narcissism, individualism, to what makes art art. It’s a refreshing vision, uniquely structured and filmed. It’s a little long at three hours in length but it’s always entertaining. The scene with the man playing an ape out of control will have you riveted to your seat. It’s by far the most original and thought-provoking film I’ve seen this year.

2 - Best American film

Frances McDormand along with the entire cast of this drama set in small town U.S.A. is outstanding. It’s a more conventional film than The Square but it’s less conventional than 99% of all other American films out there. It’s not perfect either but it’s definitely a powerful human drama that will keep you on the edge of your seat and, surprisingly, move you.

3 - Worst title of the year

Three billboards outside Ebbing, Missouri

It’s actually a great title as it captures what the film is about. However, you can’t remember it easily and it’s hard to recommend it.

4 - Best French film

It’s a French film directed by a Dutch known for Basic Instinct and Robocop :) In it, French actress Isabelle Huppert is her usual self: weird, cool, funny. This thriller won the César (French Oscar) this year.

5 - Best tearjerker

The little boy in the first half of this film steals the show. He is incredible. So touching. As for Nicole Kidman, she tries hard to express emotions behind all the botox but she does manage to play an Australian woman. And it should be easy for her. The Philip Glass-Michael Nyman inspired music is fantastic.

6 - Most surprising ending

A love story that ends like that? In Hollywood? Daring.

7 - Best directing

Ridley Scott is at the top of his game. Yes, it’s a classic monster story but he manages to surprise us and move beyond the formula. 

8 - Most misogynistic and overhyped film

Jennifer Lawrence’s character is constantly being dragged down in this story. Javier Bardem plays his usual violent unlikable self. (It’s sad Bardem is now stuck to evil characters, we seem to forget he was touching in “The Sea Inside.”) And director Aronofsky seems to have no other objective in mind than to make a controversial film. It’s laughable at so many moments like when Kristen Wiig appears as a killer. Alhough “Mother!” is supposed to be about creativity, it ends up feeling it’s about nothing at all. Aussi tôt vu, aussi tôt oublié.

9 - Worst film

Sure, it’s for kids but does it need to have all the worst plot, acting and special effects possible? And why does Robin Wright have a Russian accent? And why was it so long? And what happened to her transparent plane? 

10 - Best short film

Lower Heaven 

Two young Iranian friends are attacked for racist reasons. One seeks revenge for his friend who was badly wounded. It’s slow, raw and powerful.

11 - Best short film, runner-up

 Who knew the lives of security guards could be so poetic and freeing?

12 - Best documentary

Beautifully shot and gripping till the end, this film focuses on a positive indigenous story

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Lots of effects in this promotional video I did a few years ago for the Globe and Mail!

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The latest project I directed

This the trailer for Happy Anniversary, a short comedy (3:33 mins). A couple discovers they haven't been paying attention and don't really know each other.  With Kyle Kass and Julia Bruce, Written by Julia Bruce

Filmed on Canon 5D Mark IV and edited with Final Cut Pro X

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Here are the bloopers from the short film Happy Anniversary directed by Julian Liurette. With Julia Bruce and Kyle Kass. Written by Julia Bruce.

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Baby Boy

Short film written, directed and produced by Julian Liurette. With Kate McArthur and Aaron Hagey-MacKay. Filmed by Lana Slezic. Selected at the Very Short Film Festival in Paris 2016

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How one reserve is resurrecting languages a residential school tried to extinguish

I filmed Geronimo and his niece Fran while Julien Gignac interviewed him and edited the video. Such an important and not heard enough story in Canada.

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Take a tour of a Toronto penthouse suite in Canada's tallest condo tower

This was produced by me for the Globe and Mail. It was fun shooting up there and seeing that fantastic stunning view.

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Women in science

This is a Globe and Mail video I did in 2013 at CAMH, the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health in Toronto. It focuses on Romina Mizrahi, who at the time, did groundbreaking research on schizophrenia. The video was filmed with the Canon 5D Mark III and edited with Final Cut Pro X. 

LINK TO THE VIDEO: https://tgam.ca/2tCAkwh

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5 tips to reduce school stress

During the summer of 2016, before school started in September, I produced this video for the Globe and Mail to help parents, teachers and students find ways of reducing their anxieties about returning to school.  Lindsay Watson from the Peel District School Board suggests here 5 tips. The video was filmed on the Canon 5D Mark III and edited on Final Cut Pro X.

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How to be a successful entrepreneur with Som Seif

Had the pleasure of meeting and filming investing guru Som Seif on several occasions. Always a pro and a enjoyable to work with.