I dare you to find the theme of Short Film Competition 1. Small hint, there are various genres, different moods, and protagonist of all shapes and sizes.
Still thinking about it? Good luck! And if you see something you’d like to watch, check out the end of this article for more info and links!
Without further ado, here are the reviews of said shorts:
The Second Child
- Year of production: 2024
- Directed by: Runxiao Luo.
- Producer: Luka Wang.
Synopsis
A pregnant woman is already taking care of her eldest son, who has a rare disease. Because of this situation, she is full of concerns.
Review
This heartbreaking story shares the point of view of many women around the world. Women are often seen as carers. In fact, it is expected of them, and they are severely judged when they refuse, or simply can’t, fulfil that role. As such, Meng Qin (Yanxi Li) is expected to do everything around the house and take care of her son. The father of the kid is essentially nowhere to be found.
The almost lack of a male presence speaks volumes of the weight that Meng Qin has to carry. This semi-absence is a wonderful choice, much like that of the ending, a tasteful albeit crushing end that says everything without the need for a single word.
All in all, The Second Child is a great example of discreet and tasteful storytelling, with wonderful performances and a beautiful story.
The Stag
- Year of production: 2023
- Directed by: Chien An Chu.
- Producer: Ziyuan Wang.
Synopsis
A man has to cut a stag’s antlers in front of his two kids.
Review
This essay on toxic masculinity and how it affects individuals cleverly utilises the dynamics between stags as the perfect comparison for those that define men’s behaviour towards each other. Even though their love for each other is clear from the very beginning, the protagonist and his two boys also call into power plays to establish their hierarchy. An attitude that makes no sense in the context of today’s society, yet it is so ingrained in men’s nature they can’t help but fall into them.
The balance between love and competition is clear in this short film, highlighting the nonsensical nature of these behaviours. Of course, the comparison with the stags, even though it is a bit too under the nose, does provide some further insight into the lack of intellect that is needed to perform these rituals.
All in all, The Stag is, in a way, another form of commentary on the toxicity of the patriarchy towards men. This theme has still barely been explored, so seeing works like this truly brings some much-needed hope for the future.
Mānoa Valley
- Year of production: 2025
- Directed by: Emily May Jampel.
- Producer: Diane Ng and Aja Toscano.
Synopsis
Two old friends spend some time together before one of them moves away.
Review
Simple caption of a moment in life all immigrants have been through. Whether you have more or less relationships in the place you grew up in, there is always a moment right before moving that stays with you. The moment where you wonder if you are doing the right thing, if you are doing what you are meant to or not, etc. Questions about your old life and about the one about to begin.
This short film does a great job capturing this unique moment in life and its intensity, without feeling the need to make an over-dramatised narrative. It takes bravery and a very clear vision to see that, in this case, less is more. As such, the result is an absolutely fantastic slice of life.
Kill the Horse
- Year of production: 2024
- Directed by: Xiaoruo Guo.
- Producer: Cong Wu.
Synopsis
Absolute trip in which you follow a character through a series of strangely related events.
Review
Kill the Horse is the kind of film that gets severely lost in translation. Still, that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy it unless you have a Chinese background. You may get just a tiny percentage of its meaning, that’s for sure, but you will get enough to enjoy it.
While you might not understand many references, the rise and fall of civilisation is pretty clear, especially when a great flood is part of the narrative. The same goes for religion and the truth behind religious organisations, and some other very clear metaphors.
All in all, Kill the Horse uses a gorgeous, fluid animation to convey a journey into the belly of the beast. The beast, of course, being human nature and our physical and spiritual relationship with the world that surrounds us.
Don’t You Know
- Year of production: 2024
- Directed by: Arnold Tam.
- Producer: Arnold Tam.
Synopsis
A family video comparing the past and the present of the director’s closest relatives.
Review
This short will be highly relatable to all those who have travelled abroad to study or work. The director wonders what happened with the relationship his family members used to have, namely his father and sister. The answer is simple, people change and grow apart, especially if one of them moves to a different country, and they are no longer in contact as often.
The creator tries to embed the narrative with some kind of mysticism when, in reality, there is none. Had the story been fictional and a little more complex, the reflection would have made a lot more sense. Sadly, it is not, and what remains is simply the questions of a person who doesn’t want to see the reality around them because it is too tragic.
All in all, Don’t You Know is a very fair attempt at making something normal look special. The editing is creative and manages to move you from time to time. Nevertheless, the obvious remains: there is nothing innovative about this story, and as such, unless you are part of this family, chances are, you will disconnect pretty early on.
Boxing Day
- Year of production: 2024
- Directed by: Xiaoyi Zhong.
- Producer: Holly Guo.
Synopsis
A nurse goes about her rounds as she keeps tabs on a boxing championship where one of the discharged patients is competing.
Review
A nurse’s life is hard. That is a universal truth. It doesn’t matter how much you love your job, it is one of the hardest jobs out there. Nurse Cecily (Siyao Hu) has a very particular way to perform her duties. Instead of the traditional cares, she tries to heal her patients by giving them the love, compassion and empathy they require.
Her unorthodox methods make this short as endearing as it does fun. The fusion of comedy, bittersweet reality, and fantastic fiction is the perfect breeding ground for a lovely story full of heart and hope in humanity’s ability to do good.
All in all, Boxing Day is an entertaining watch with a very pure message. The acting and the imagination behind the story are the main highlights of this brilliant short.
Advice to take from these short films:
- If your behaviour could easily be comparable to that of an animal, you might want to do some introspection.
- Some moments are beautiful in their simplicity. Not everything needs to be extra in order to be meaningful.
- Some people are meant to stay, some are meant to go, and that’s OK.
- Sometimes empathy is the best treatment a person can get.
Do you fancy going to the Short Film Competition 1 at Mint Chinese Film Festival? You still have a chance! There will be another screening the 23rd of February at 14:30!
What’s your take? Have you watched any of these short films? Let me know your thoughts in the comments section below, in my contact page or through my Instagram! For more reviews and cinema-related articles, check out the rest of my blog! 😀
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