I watched a bunch of the movies from the Oil Valley Film Festival. Mostly the short films because I worked second shift this weekend, so I do not have time to watch a movie when I get home at 11:30.
This is the first time I have ever been able to attend a film festival. One of the few things this pandemic has actually made better. There would be no way for me to head out to Oil City for a few days to watch movies. And yet now, I can watch them from home. The only recommendation for next year (if it stays online) is that there should be a Facebook group and perhaps a post for each movie where people can discuss them.
When I imagine short, independent films, I think of the Family Guy episode where the news anchor says she did an indie film in college…
It was cool to watch these movies and realize that is definitely not the case. This may have something to do with the curator, Matt, and the fantastic job he did picking these movies.
Sockeye Salmon, Red Fish
This is a documentary about the sockeye salmon in Kamchatka. I had no idea that Kamchatka was such a beautiful region. I just assumed it was a place you conquered in Risk while holding North America. But no, it is this incredible land that has tons of brown bears and all sorts of other animals, along with amazing looking landscapes. The documentary shows how the salmon are the lifeblood of the region and reminds us of how humans can screw up the equilibrium of nature.
Choker
Another movie about nature. This super short film is about a girl choking on the beach. I am not going to lie, there is a scene that almost caused me to throw up. I do not do well with people putting their hands down someone’s throat. The film shows how humans can be ambivalent towards animals and the rest of the planet.
Ghost in the Gun
I swear Matt included a western just for me, haha. This was such a great idea (a gun is possessed and seeks revenge, so whomever has the gun wants to continue the revenge). I would love to see this idea expanded. The way it ended definitely sets up another story.
Sac de Merde
This one had one of the funniest scenes I have seen in a movie in a very long time. Arielle Haller-Silverstone is very funny and I hope to see her in more stuff in the future. I think Ryan should watch this one, he would get a chuckle.
Two Dum Micks
Do you want to watch Sean Astin and D.B. Sweeney try to kill a goose? It is a funny film about a couple of losers who find themselves in the drunk tank and need to make money to hire a good lawyer.
I watched a few other movies and I hope to watch a couple more today.
