2020 Oscar Nominated Short Films - Documentary
SHOULD I SEE IT?
YES
Always a great presentation and fantastic trip to the movies, you have to look fast because the short films are only in theaters for a few weeks, prior to the Oscars.
Oscar pools and Oscar party contests can be won and lost with the Short Film categories. Experiencing these nominees achieves both a better chance at victory and the opportunity to see some terrific and original films.
NO
Casual movie watchers tend to watch high profile, big name star movies and convincing people to watch short films is a challenge. No matter how good these films are, a large number of people are not going to care much.
You are not a fan of a wide range of genres and themes. You never know what you are going to get with these short film presentations and that mix of styles can throw people off.
OUR REVIEW
Every year, the ballot busters for Oscar pools and Oscar parties often prove to be the short film categories. Some advocate for their removal from the televised ceremony. Others seek them out every year in theaters, celebrating the creativity that lies within each slate of nominees. I, for one, love uncovering these each year, as well as other short films which gain traction within the industry and hope to make it to the highest stage possible – the Academy Awards.
Each year, ShortsTV and Shorts International secure the rights to the 15 short film nominees in the Animation, Live Action, and Documentary Short Subject categories and release them as individual screening packages in theaters. The week before the Oscars, they shift them to digital platforms for people to buy and watch at home.
The Short Film packages have proven wildly popular. Each year, the box office numbers have grown and the mini-film festival idea has really caught hold with Oscarwatchers, and those genuinely curious about the potential next wave of storytellers and filmmakers out in the world.
Before these nominees received theatrical distribution in 2005, the short film nominees were nearly impossible to find. Now, with the 15th anniversary of these short films packages playing in hundreds of theaters each year, we cannot envision an Oscar season without them playing at a theater near us.
And so, without any further ado, let's dive into this year’s nominees for Best Documentary Short Subject.
In the Absence | 29 Minutes
Directed by Yi Seung-jun
★★★★1/2
A maddening, heartwrenching, and aggravating film, the masterfully edited and constructed In the Absence documents the sinking of the Sewol Ferry in 2014. Carrying nearly 500 individuals, and more than 300 school children, the South Korean tragedy is harrowing to watch unfold. Careful not to deliver highlights of the story, writer/director Yi Seung-jun uses actual recordings from the “recovery” efforts, which were nonexistent and stunted by government officials more worried about how the situation looked from a PR perspective and whether they could get a camera on site to record what was happening.
As the ship continues to capsize, the Coast Guard deployed one recovery vessel and a handful of lives were saved. However, many, many people lost their lives, many of which were children. In the years after the tragedy, and as the film presents its story - some four years after the event, families are still waiting to have their children’s belongings returned and a true story as to what actually occurred that particular day.
The film builds masterfully, but as your jaw drops and you become angrier and angrier at government arrogance, malaise, and a lack of concern as to what is occurring, In the Absence almost demands a feature-length framework to complete the story. Brilliant in how the film presents its story, you may have more questions than answers as we understand the massive ripple effect this loss had on so, so many grieving and distraught families, friends, and loved ones.
Learning to Skateboard in a Warzone (If You’re A Girl) | 40 Minutes
Directed by Carol Dysinger
★★★★
The best documentaries turn the spotlight onto elements of society we normally never hear about or even know exists. Take Skateistan, a Kabul, Afghanistan school (“Skateistan” is a nickname) where young girls attend class and skateboarding is part of the curriculum. Though the school’s existence is not a secret entity, director Carol Dysinger opts to not disclose the exact location of the school she would ultimately embed with over the course of approximately one year’s time.
The simple act of defiance, with skate ramps and skateboards, speaks volumes in a war-torn and still largely oppressive environment where young girls are discouraged from reading and learning, and are forced to marry and raise families in their teenage years. In getting to know some of the girls, their families and instructors, we see the impact this and other programs are having on future generations of women striving and fighting to take control of their identities, as they find their voices and carve new paths in their family histories.
Life Overtakes Me | 40 Minutes
Directed by John Haptas, Kristine Samuelson
★★★1/2
Netflix lands a nomination in this category with Life Overtakes Me, which introduces viewers to a surprising, but very real condition known as “Resignation Syndrome.” Common with refugee children, displaced from their home countries and unsure of their future, directors John Haptas and Kristine Samuelson show us a few refugee families, whose children are locked into this coma-like state of existence.
Fascinating in the set-up and the scenes which spotlight the struggles families go through in taking care of their children, the syndrome is essentially like a slowly creeping black cloud that engulfs its victim. Kids show signs of depression, laziness, and eventually stop eating, drinking, and basically see their anxieties and worries lull them into a permanent state of sleep.
The sense of wonder about the subject matter never wanes, however the film feels a bit padded, as constructed, with its 40-minute running time. The film could use greater context and definition, so as to paint a far-ranging understanding of how something like this can take hold. Begging for more detail does not diminish the discovery that a condition like this exists and Life Overtakes Me succeeds in illuminating something in the world which never gets reported.
St. Louis Superman | 27 Minutes
Directed by Sami Khan, Smriti Mundhra
★★★★
Bruce Franks, Jr. saw his community struggling and decided to step forward and make a difference. On the heels of the murder of Mike Brown and the protests in and around Ferguson, Franks decided to run for local government. St. Louis Superman documents the local rapper, activist, and organizer’s efforts to change his community for the better and make life easier for those who loved and cared about.
Directors Sami Khan and Smriti Mundhra have remarkable access to Franks, and when he is elected to the State House of Representatives, he instantly finds himself one of the only Democrats and non-white elected officials in the Missouri legislature. Franks wrestles with who he is, was, and is expected to be as he adjusts from activism on the streets to fighting for activism in the state capital.
An honest, forthright portrayal of Franks’ political aspirations, his stress and anxiety, and the new role he finds himself in makes St. Louis Superman a captivating character study.
Walk Run Cha-Cha | 20 Minutes
Directed by Laura Nix
★★★★
Oscar nominated filmmaker Laura Nix’s latest documentary, Walk Run Cha-Cha, is more along-the-lines of the feel-good variety, at least in this category, however it addresses some difficult realities faced by the lovely couple at the heart of the film - Paul and Millie Cao.
Vietnamese immigrants, Paul came to America more than 40 years ago, Millie soon thereafter, and though they came together later in life, Nix intercuts moments where the couple lose themselves on the dance floor, with conversations with friends and family.
By inviting us to the table, we become more than observers to the Cao’s story, we become part of the conversation. As Paul and Millie’s love for one another is undeniable, their journey in finding each other, with their collective love of dance, has to make even the most cynical of viewers crack a smile and appreciate the story Nix has uncovered.
Overall Thoughts:
Another strong slate of nominees, this year’s field of Documentary Short Subject nominees are all very well made. For an emotional gut-punch, In the Absence still has my blood boiling weeks after first seeing the film. Life Overtakes Me, even if it is the film I find I like the least in this category, still introduces something new and unknown to the viewer in a mostly captivating way.
St. Louis Superman presents a different side to activism that few ever discuss; specifically, the stress and strain making a difference can place upon someone. For Oscar voters, if In the Absence is too tough to endure, two terrific films are waiting for their votes. Walk Run Cha-Cha is a wonderful little movie, but my guess is that Learning to Skateboard in a Warzone (If You’re A Girl) might be just the film that lands enough support to win the Oscar.
Skateboard'‘s message is timely, important, and topical, as equality initiatives around the world, and even in this country, is an issue that is top of mind and close to the heart of so many people in our political climate. Learning to Skateboard… shows us that creating a culture of empowerment is possible anywhere, even in Kabul, Afghanistan, one makeshift skate ramp at a time.
CAST & CREW
Directors: Yi Seung-jun (In the Absence); Carol Dysinger (Learning to Skateboard in a Warzone (If You’re A Girl)); John Haptas, Kristine Samuelson (Life Overtakes Me); Sami Khan, Smriti Mundhra (St. Louis Superman); Laura Nix (Walk Run Cha-Cha).
Release Date: January 31, 2020
ShortsTV/Shorts International