A young boy tries to come up with something worthy of his first confession. His attempt is innocent enough, but things soon go seriously awry.
For It (A Little Toast)
The boy’s chubby friend/anti-conscience has some pretty funny lines. The production values are good and the boy does display some pretty competent acting chops.
Against It (Sip and Wince)
When I say “go awry” I mean on nearly Coen Brothers levels of screwed up and depressing. When the short starts as a light-hearted coming of age tale, this is a bit off-putting. Catholics sure won’t like it much.
Wish 143
A terminally ill teenager is granted a wish by a charity. He chooses an hour alone with a naked woman.
For It (A Little Toast)
Make A Wish has to get this request some of the time, right? The concept is great, asking some very practical questions about the whole scenario. It plays the comic angle well and gets plenty of laughs. This is the best shot of all of the shorts.
Against It (Sip and Wince)
The plot falls down a bit when it tries to get serious, and ends up chickening out a bit in a finale that is a mildly cliché.
Na Wewe
During a civil war in Burundi, an African country neighboring Rwanda, a minivan is stopped by rebel Hutu forces. They try to sort out the Tutsis and non-Tutsis to figure out those deserving of extermination.
For It (A Little Toast)
The writer of this short is a native Burundian that experienced or was told of similar situations and the story rings true. It deftly exposes the ridiculousness of sorting out and discriminating against people along racial or ethnic lines, especially in a world becoming ever closer and more intermixed.
Against It (Sip and Wince)
Subtitles come into play again here, although foreign live-action and documentary shorts don’t usually seem to suffer for them. For all of the suspense and threat of violence, the ending is a bit too easy of a solution.
The Crush
A small boy in love with his teacher challenges her boyfriend to a duel after he proposes.
For It (A Little Toast)
This one is also played for humor, and has some wonderfully Irish euphemisms, like kiddy-fiddler.
Against It (Sip and Wince)
The concept is the least developed or explored, and while funny, it’s not quite as funny as the alternatives. The “twist” ending is kinda lazy, and raises some definite questions about the quality of parenting and gun safety standards in Ireland.
God of Love
A lounge singer and dart champion receives love-drug darts as an answer to a prayer. He tries to use them to capture the woman he loves, but finds that they seem to work for everyone but himself.
For It (A Little Toast)
This is at least my pick for the funniest of the shorts, and judging by audience response it was several other people’s as well. It takes a unique look at the conventions of relationships and is much cleverer than its competition. I’m a big fan of judicious usage of black and white. Oh, and his friend is a ringer for a young Kevin Smith, so take that for what you will.
Against It (Sip and Wince)
The protagonist is one ugly mother. Not everybody appreciates New York Bohemian style.
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