As a self-declared movie fan, I don't watch nearly as many short films as I should. Generally, the longer the short, the less likely I am to watch it, and the same goes for smaller numbers of views. However, if I hear of a short from a trustworthy source, such as a movie blog (usually /Film), neither of those factors matter much. If /Film posts a video, it's probably worth checking out. That's why I've decided to share the brilliant short Glory At Sea with the readers that I have.
The 2012 Sundance Film Festival came to a close January 29th, and one of the most buzzed about films was director Benh Zeitlin's feature debut Beasts of the Southern Wild. The film won the Grand Jury Prize (Dramatic) and the Excellence in Cinematography Award (U.S. Dramatic) awards, with the former being the highest honor given out at the Sundance Film Festival. If the awards aren't convincing, here's a snippet of Germain Lussier's review of the film (via /Film), as well as a synopsis taken from the film festival itself:
"Beasts of the Southern Wild is a film about which I could ramble on about at length. I probably will in the coming months. There’s much to be said about the incredible production design, the rousing score (co-composed by Zeitlin himself) and stunning visuals...the most important thing to take away is Beasts of the Southern Wild does several things films aspire to but rarely achieve: it transports you to a whole new world, stimulates your intellect and sparks conversations. This Benh Zeitlin guy is one to watch."The synopsis:
Hushpuppy, an intrepid six-year-old girl, lives with her father, Wink, in "the Bathtub," a southern Delta community at the edge of the world. Wink's tough love prepares her for the unraveling of the universe; for a time when he's no longer there to protect her. When Wink contracts a mysterious illness, nature flies out of whack-temperatures rise, and the ice caps melt, unleashing an army of prehistoric creatures called aurochs. With the waters rising, the aurochs coming, and Wink's health fading, Hushpuppy goes in search of her lost mother.Surprise! Before Benh Zeitlin filmed Beasts of the Southern Wild, he released Glory at Sea. At 25 minutes, Glory at Sea is a long but worthwhile short. There isn't too strong of a narrative to grasp (all I can say is that there is some sort of post-Katrina Louisiana setting), though the Malickian visuals and uplifting score are stunning. If you want to catch a taste of Benh Zeitlin's style before Beasts of the Southern Wild is presumably released in the next year, you better watch this short. Or else, I'll put on my spaghetti helmet.
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