I am a judge for the Indianapolis-based Heartland Film Festival. This feature film is a Crystal Heart Award Winner and is eligible to be the Grand Prize Winner in October of 2008. The Heartland Film Festival is a non-profit that honors Truly Moving Pictures. A Truly Moving Picture “…explores the human journey by artistically expressing hope and respect for the positive values of life.”
Raed is an elderly, Jordanian man who seems to be a simple janitor at an airport. But things change for him when he finds a discarded Captain’s hat that he wears home. The neighborhood children promote him to a world savy pilot and he promotes himself to being an excellent and imaginative storyteller.
But Raed is not a simple man. We slowly find out that he is wise and well read. And, he has suffered tragedies in his life that would break most men and make them bitter. Raed resists being morose and adds positively to the world around him. He is kind to strangers, he mentors children with exploitive parents, and he makes other’s lives easier and more fun.
But this wouldn’t be much of a story if there weren’t a strong conflict. Next door to Raed there is a family dominated by a husband and father who is a wife-beater, child-beater, and drunk. What can an old man do to help?
It reminds one of the quote – “All that is necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing.” Raed is a good man of courage and sacrifice. He does something.
FYI – There is a Truly Moving Pictures web site where there is a listing of past Truly Moving Picture Award winners that are now either at the theater or available on video.
Saturday, October 4, 2008
Second Hand Wedding
I am a judge for the Indianapolis-based Heartland Film Festival. This feature film is a Crystal Heart Award Winner and is eligible to be the Grand Prize Winner in October of 2008. The Heartland Film Festival is a non-profit that honors Truly Moving Pictures. A Truly Moving Picture “…explores the human journey by artistically expressing hope and respect for the positive values of life.”
Amal is a 30ish autorickshawdriver in New Delhi. He appears to be simple and quiet and even naïve. He dutifully lives with and supports his Mother, and works long hours to make ends meet.
He is so out of place with the rest of the huge city of New Delhi. His fellow autorickshawdrivers seem to be hustlers and cheats. And his passengers and Delhi citizens are even worse. They include conniving lawyers, loan sharks, thieves, bribers, and spoiled adult children.
One day Amal chases a little girl who has stolen a purse from a regular passenger. Amal accidently causes her to be hit by a car and seriously hurt. Amal, out of the goodness of his heart, takes on the welfare of the child in a hospital. We begin to see Amal’s incredibly generous and giving nature.
Amal also has another chance, life-altering encounter when he picks up a surly old man who hates the world and tries to negotiate hard. Amal won’t play his game, and cheerfully acquiesces to the old man’s wishes. Unbeknownst to Amal, the man is rich and is so moved by their brief encounter that he leaves Amal in his will.
There is a painful irony between Amal needing money to help the hospitalized girl and almost being wealthy by a kindness of a curmudgeon. This irony drives the story, and
keeps your interest high.
Amal is unaffected by worldly matters that consume everyone else. He is centered by his goodness and honesty and integrity. Sacrifice is all he knows – except for his rich life in the help of others.
FYI – There is a Truly Moving Pictures web site where there is a listing of past Truly Moving Picture Award winners that are now either at the theater or available on video.
Amal is a 30ish autorickshawdriver in New Delhi. He appears to be simple and quiet and even naïve. He dutifully lives with and supports his Mother, and works long hours to make ends meet.
He is so out of place with the rest of the huge city of New Delhi. His fellow autorickshawdrivers seem to be hustlers and cheats. And his passengers and Delhi citizens are even worse. They include conniving lawyers, loan sharks, thieves, bribers, and spoiled adult children.
One day Amal chases a little girl who has stolen a purse from a regular passenger. Amal accidently causes her to be hit by a car and seriously hurt. Amal, out of the goodness of his heart, takes on the welfare of the child in a hospital. We begin to see Amal’s incredibly generous and giving nature.
Amal also has another chance, life-altering encounter when he picks up a surly old man who hates the world and tries to negotiate hard. Amal won’t play his game, and cheerfully acquiesces to the old man’s wishes. Unbeknownst to Amal, the man is rich and is so moved by their brief encounter that he leaves Amal in his will.
There is a painful irony between Amal needing money to help the hospitalized girl and almost being wealthy by a kindness of a curmudgeon. This irony drives the story, and
keeps your interest high.
Amal is unaffected by worldly matters that consume everyone else. He is centered by his goodness and honesty and integrity. Sacrifice is all he knows – except for his rich life in the help of others.
FYI – There is a Truly Moving Pictures web site where there is a listing of past Truly Moving Picture Award winners that are now either at the theater or available on video.
Amal
I am a judge for the Indianapolis-based Heartland Film Festival. This feature film is a Crystal Heart Award Winner and is eligible to be the Grand Prize Winner in October of 2008. The Heartland Film Festival is a non-profit that honors Truly Moving Pictures. A Truly Moving Picture “…explores the human journey by artistically expressing hope and respect for the positive values of life.”
Amal is a 30ish autorickshawdriver in New Delhi. He appears to be simple and quiet and even naïve. He dutifully lives with and supports his Mother, and works long hours to make ends meet.
He is so out of place with the rest of the huge city of New Delhi. His fellow autorickshawdrivers seem to be hustlers and cheats. And his passengers and Delhi citizens are even worse. They include conniving lawyers, loan sharks, thieves, bribers, and spoiled adult children.
One day Amal chases a little girl who has stolen a purse from a regular passenger. Amal accidently causes her to be hit by a car and seriously hurt. Amal, out of the goodness of his heart, takes on the welfare of the child in a hospital. We begin to see Amal’s incredibly generous and giving nature.
Amal also has another chance, life-altering encounter when he picks up a surly old man who hates the world and tries to negotiate hard. Amal won’t play his game, and cheerfully acquiesces to the old man’s wishes. Unbeknownst to Amal, the man is rich and is so moved by their brief encounter that he leaves Amal in his will.
There is a painful irony between Amal needing money to help the hospitalized girl and almost being wealthy by a kindness of a curmudgeon. This irony drives the story, and
keeps your interest high.
Amal is unaffected by worldly matters that consume everyone else. He is centered by his goodness and honesty and integrity. Sacrifice is all he knows – except for his rich life in the help of others.
FYI – There is a Truly Moving Pictures web site where there is a listing of past Truly Moving Picture Award winners that are now either at the theater or available on video.
Amal is a 30ish autorickshawdriver in New Delhi. He appears to be simple and quiet and even naïve. He dutifully lives with and supports his Mother, and works long hours to make ends meet.
He is so out of place with the rest of the huge city of New Delhi. His fellow autorickshawdrivers seem to be hustlers and cheats. And his passengers and Delhi citizens are even worse. They include conniving lawyers, loan sharks, thieves, bribers, and spoiled adult children.
One day Amal chases a little girl who has stolen a purse from a regular passenger. Amal accidently causes her to be hit by a car and seriously hurt. Amal, out of the goodness of his heart, takes on the welfare of the child in a hospital. We begin to see Amal’s incredibly generous and giving nature.
Amal also has another chance, life-altering encounter when he picks up a surly old man who hates the world and tries to negotiate hard. Amal won’t play his game, and cheerfully acquiesces to the old man’s wishes. Unbeknownst to Amal, the man is rich and is so moved by their brief encounter that he leaves Amal in his will.
There is a painful irony between Amal needing money to help the hospitalized girl and almost being wealthy by a kindness of a curmudgeon. This irony drives the story, and
keeps your interest high.
Amal is unaffected by worldly matters that consume everyone else. He is centered by his goodness and honesty and integrity. Sacrifice is all he knows – except for his rich life in the help of others.
FYI – There is a Truly Moving Pictures web site where there is a listing of past Truly Moving Picture Award winners that are now either at the theater or available on video.
Terra
I am a judge for the Indianapolis-based Heartland Film Festival. This feature film is a Crystal Heart Award Winner and is eligible to be the Grand Prize Winner in October of 2008. The Heartland Film Festival is a non-profit that honors Truly Moving Pictures. A Truly Moving Picture “…explores the human journey by artistically expressing hope and respect for the positive values of life.”
This is an animation film clearly aimed at adults. There is a separate alien planet called Terra. Terra has different air, different plants, different animals, different terrain and different “people.” The “people” are physically different from humans, but emotionally and mentally are very similar to humans. They have no legs and move with a dolphin kick motion and have a tail attached to the back of their heads. They also use their own air and cannot use oxygen.
The Terra people are attacked by the remains of the human race. Earth and its warring neighbor planets have left our environment dead and the humans are on a giant space station desperately searching for oxygen to maintain what’s left of the human race.
We understand the Terra people through a teenage girl named Mala. We understand the humans through a downed fighter pilot named Lt. Stanton. Mala causes Lt. Stanton to crash on Terra and then she helps save Lt. Stanton’s life in their non-oxygen world.
But there is a terrible moral conflict facing the Terra people and the human race. It appears only one of them can survive. The Terra planet can stay as it is and support the Terra people or the planet’s air can be changed to oxygen to support the remnants of human beings who only have a short time left. Which side should the viewer take?
This is a powerful story, well told. The music and animation are more than satisfactory, but it is the pushing forward of the story that matters. There are good people by any definition on both sides who wrestle with what the right thing to do is. And the viewer is forced to dwell on what is right also. Powerful stuff.
FYI – There is a Truly Moving Pictures web site where there is a listing of past Truly Moving Picture Award winners that are now either at the theater or available on video.
This is an animation film clearly aimed at adults. There is a separate alien planet called Terra. Terra has different air, different plants, different animals, different terrain and different “people.” The “people” are physically different from humans, but emotionally and mentally are very similar to humans. They have no legs and move with a dolphin kick motion and have a tail attached to the back of their heads. They also use their own air and cannot use oxygen.
The Terra people are attacked by the remains of the human race. Earth and its warring neighbor planets have left our environment dead and the humans are on a giant space station desperately searching for oxygen to maintain what’s left of the human race.
We understand the Terra people through a teenage girl named Mala. We understand the humans through a downed fighter pilot named Lt. Stanton. Mala causes Lt. Stanton to crash on Terra and then she helps save Lt. Stanton’s life in their non-oxygen world.
But there is a terrible moral conflict facing the Terra people and the human race. It appears only one of them can survive. The Terra planet can stay as it is and support the Terra people or the planet’s air can be changed to oxygen to support the remnants of human beings who only have a short time left. Which side should the viewer take?
This is a powerful story, well told. The music and animation are more than satisfactory, but it is the pushing forward of the story that matters. There are good people by any definition on both sides who wrestle with what the right thing to do is. And the viewer is forced to dwell on what is right also. Powerful stuff.
FYI – There is a Truly Moving Pictures web site where there is a listing of past Truly Moving Picture Award winners that are now either at the theater or available on video.
Friday, October 3, 2008
Karla's Wedding
I am a judge for the Indianapolis-based Heartland Film Festival. This feature film is a Crystal Heart Award Winner and is eligible to be the Grand Prize Winner in October of 2008. The Heartland Film Festival is a non-profit that honors Truly Moving Pictures. A Truly Moving Picture “…explores the human journey by artistically expressing hope and respect for the positive values of life.”
Karla is a 10 year-old Danish girl that faces an all too common problem around Christmas-time. She wants to have a traditional, old-fashioned holiday season, but is part of an extended family. She has a father with a drinking problem who lives alone. She lives with her Mother and Stepfather and brother and step-brother. The logistics are hard and everybody is so busy.
She finally concludes, “…grown-ups don’t care about Christmas.” And this will be “… (her) worst Christmas ever.”
Karla finds a respite with an eccentric older man called Buster. It’s hard to tell whether Karla is watching over Buster or Buster is watching over Karla. But at least they have each other.
Karla’s despair and quest for holiday joy might make her family re-examine their lives …
or maybe it won’t. Karla has a lot to teach all of us if we will only stop being busy and listen and watch.
FYI – There is a Truly Moving Pictures web site where there is a listing of past Truly Moving Picture Award winners that are now either at the theater or available on video.
Karla is a 10 year-old Danish girl that faces an all too common problem around Christmas-time. She wants to have a traditional, old-fashioned holiday season, but is part of an extended family. She has a father with a drinking problem who lives alone. She lives with her Mother and Stepfather and brother and step-brother. The logistics are hard and everybody is so busy.
She finally concludes, “…grown-ups don’t care about Christmas.” And this will be “… (her) worst Christmas ever.”
Karla finds a respite with an eccentric older man called Buster. It’s hard to tell whether Karla is watching over Buster or Buster is watching over Karla. But at least they have each other.
Karla’s despair and quest for holiday joy might make her family re-examine their lives …
or maybe it won’t. Karla has a lot to teach all of us if we will only stop being busy and listen and watch.
FYI – There is a Truly Moving Pictures web site where there is a listing of past Truly Moving Picture Award winners that are now either at the theater or available on video.
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