2013 Oscar-Nominated Live-Action Short Films:

This weekend I nearly had an entire theater to myself when I went to see the "2013 Oscar-Nominated Live-Action Short Films." There is a surprising lack of overt comedy in the shorts--the Oscars always seem to love throwing a curveball comedy in there to try to show people how young and hip they can be. However, don't let this observation turn you off. While none of these films can be considered a true comedy, they are all approached with genuine compassion and empathy.  

 

The first short film, "Death of a Shadow," is a Belgium/France experimental dark fantasy with clear Guillermo del Toro undertones.  Taking place in the wake of World War I, a photographer with a mysterious, supernatural camera captures the shadow of a dead soldier named Nathan (brought to life by actor Matthias Schoenaerts from "Rust and Bone") and offers him a second chance at life in exchange for 10,000 shadows.  Taking advantage of this opportunity, Nathan seeks out Sarah, the woman he had loved before he was killed in battle. Unfortunately, Sarah has moved on, propelling Nathan to a darker course of action.  While the storytelling at times seems cloudy, the striking visuals are never short of stunning and the bizarre conceit is thoroughly engaging throughout the film. 

 

Next, the Afghanistan short film "Buzkashi Boys" features two young boys living amidst the war-torn ruins of Kabul.  One boy is a streetwise urchin and the other is the obedient son of stern yet loving blacksmith. Both boys dream of one day playing Buzkashi (a variant of polo but with a dead goat...don't ask).  While circumstances eventually turn heartbreaking, in the hopeful faces of our young protagonists we can see the bittersweet memory of own childhood aspirations, reminding us of a time when darkness was painted over with an uninhibited hand and such dreams seemed all too possible.

 

In a similar vein, the US/South African film "Asad" offers up another heartbreaking child's-eye view of a Somali boy struggling to do what he needs to survive in a war-torn fishing village plagued with violence.  Asad must choose between defying the armed pirates in favor of a traditional fishing life or joining with them and potentially losing the freedom he holds dear.  In what seems to be a lose-lose situation, Asad gives credence to the belief that children often see things more clearly than we adults ever could.

 

In what is certainly the "hippest" of the entries, "Curfew" takes a bold subject matter and finds a harmless balance of serious content, dark comedy, and tenderness.  "Curfew" follows a troubled and drug-addicted young man named Ritchie on the brink of suicide whose attempt is interrupted by a desperate phone call from an estranged sister.  When she begs Ritchie to take care of her daughter for a few others, Ritchie concedes and embarks on a transformative journey during which he hesitantly lets someone in and finds himself unable to let go of this new spark of life. While coming off as slightly kitsch and trite at times, its saccharine premise works, in no small part due to the charming young actress playing the niece.

 

With circumstantial connections to Oscar-nominated "Amour," "Henry" follows an 84-year old former concert pianist--played with heart-wrenching authenticity--tortured with the slow terror of Alzheimer's.  Filmed with fluid and melodic camera movements, "Henry" becomes a disorienting dance through the visceral emotions of Henry's ever-present past as he goes from touching encounters with his daughter to futile and frantic searches for his late wife.  Unlike the devastating deterioration of his memories, this Canadian short film stays with the viewer long after it ends.

 

What seem to be downers on paper really come to life on the big screen and somehow manage to become moving rather than depressing. Each serves to shed light on the state of our society, to illuminate our flaws and what makes us human, while also demonstrating what people are capable of when faced with seemingly insurmountable challenges. In this way, you may find yourself touched in a surprising way when the credits finally roll. 

David Gaillardetz is a contributor to this blog. He is a senior Social Work major at Saint Louis University who likes working with kids, reading books, and talking passionately about things nobody else cares about. He comes from a background of faith and social justice, and these underline his perspective on films.