This program opens in San Diego at the Ken Cinema on Friday, February 8th.
If you’re involved in any kind of Oscar pool, it can be very difficult to pick out categories like Short films, particularly because they’re so difficult to find. Thankfully, every year Landmark Ken Cinema presents a program compiling all of the nominees. This year, the Oscar Nominated Short Films 2019: Live Action selection five projects created in different countries around the world. It’s always remarkable how much effort goes into each and every impressive story. And in the end, viewing the shorts ends up making my final picks even more difficult to determine.
The overall mood this time out is even darker and more somber than in previous editions. Madre (Spain) is the first featured clip and it involves the lead arriving at her apartment and receiving an unsettling call from her 6-year-old son, who is away on a vacation with his father. The boy reports that his dad has vanished and there is no one around. Panicked, the protagonist and another family member attempt to figure out where the boy is in order to get him some help. The majority of the short is played out in a single master shot from the apartment as she talks on the phone and attempts to pry out information. The film plays on a mother’s worst fear and boasts strong performances.
Next is Fauve (Canada), a story about two kids playing games on railroad tracks. They dare each other to take various risks and try to take control of both the game and each other. As events progress, the pair eventually break into a quarry filled with cement-like mud. Of course, it isn’t long before the youths get themselves into serious danger and have to deal with the consequences. This short makes an impression, creating an authentic picture of youngsters getting into trouble. It is beautifully shot and features a lot of stark and striking photography of the nearby woods and grimy, abandoned surface mine. It also takes a subtle approach to the material and the psychological implications of the event.
Marguerite (Canada) is another French-Canadian effort. This one follows an elderly woman nearing her final days and her relationship with a visiting caregiver. As the two go about their normal routines day after day, they begin open up about their personal lives and experiences. The attendant’s frankness about her own personal life inspires the senior to share some of her own feelings that she had always kept to herself. This effort is unique and sensitively handled with excellent lead performances. While bittersweet, it may be the most emotionally engaging of the entire program.
Not feeling completely morose yet? Then the police procedural Detainment (Ireland) might push you to the brink. This short is based on a real event that occurred in 1993, with much of the dialogue taken from actual police interrogations. Two 10-year-old kids from Liverpool are questioned by authorities about their involvement in the abduction and murder of a toddler. One of the children acts hard and tough towards the policemen, while the other behaves in a terrified and remorseful fashion. Both blame each other for the horrific actions taken and it’s ultimately up to the viewer to decide who is being more truthful. This one about as heavy as it gets, but it is a memorably short and the two children are exceptional in roles that would be difficult for even the most seasoned of professional actors.
Finally, Skin (USA) is yet another tale involving a youth. This story follows a lower-class kid who is affectionately raised by Neo-Nazi parents; he’s given shooting lessons and becomes part of other unsettling activities. However, the plot focus changes after a brutal hate crime initiated by the father, in which viewers witness the unexpected repercussions of the man’s appalling actions. Like the other films, this effort includes strong performances from the entire cast. While effective, given the tone set early on, it is jarring to see the short switch focus away from the child and witness this somber story suddenly get spun in a Twilight Zone-like direction.
So yes, there are most definitely no comedies featured in this year’s Oscar Nominated Short Films 2019: Live Action program. However, the titles themselves are all accomplished and manage to engage viewers despite having limited time to develop the characters and express their ideas. Any of these could win an Oscar, although I’d rank Marguerite and Detainment as personal favorites. Regardless, the shorts all deserve support and attention. If viewers don’t mind the weighty subject matter, they’d be well-advised to check this program out.