Raindance Film Festival: On Tender Hooks

This review can also be found on Step2Inspire.

The act of human suspension is relatively simple; take one man, several meat hooks, and a winch. Pierce the subject's flesh with meat hooks, the kind with which your local butcher probably hoists his prize hog, and winch the subject up using said hooks. Et voilà! One suspended human.

On Tender Hooks follows the story of Damien, an actor and freak-show performer whose talents include glass eating, fire breathing and hammering a nail into his nose (which makes for one hell of a CV!), on his first human suspension. Being quite well acquainted with such curious art forms, Damien felt the need to confront human suspension head on.

Although the idea of being suspended by a series of meat hooks sounds like a concept for a torture sequence in a rather sadistic horror, On Tender Hooks is one of the many documentary shorts (as in short documentaries, not the kind of thing David Attenborough might wear on holiday) shown at Raindance Film Festival. Filmed, produced and edited by Kate Shenton, On Tender Hooks provides a brief glimpse into the world of human suspension, documenting Damien's preparation and, ultimately, suspension. Shenton's guerilla, fly-on-the-wall style documentary captures a real and natural-feeling insight into this hitherto unseen world that, on the surface, seems relatively twisted. However, Shenton aims to show the more human and 'cuddly' side of suspension, the people involved and it's link to spiritual connotations.

Whilst it may not be everybody's cup of tea (and certainly, I'd find a cup of tea immeasurably preferable to being hung from hooks, but hey; I'm like that!), some claim that it is in fact quite a 'peaceful' experience, a form of natural adrenaline high, and a way of demonstrating that we are more than just our bodies; a literal case of mind over matter. I don't think this was quite what Descartes had in mind when he wrote his views on the mind/body dichotomy, but it's intriguing nonetheless!

Having been completely independently funded and produced, On Tender Hooks is a remarkable piece of cinematography, and with the view to make a feature length piece on suspension, as well as embarking on her own hook-based experience, Shenton has well and truly invested herself into this project. Whilst I may not be too enamoured on the idea of hooks being shoved into one's person, I am interested to see where this project goes and admire both she and Damien for their spirit in this brilliantly mad endeavour!

Raindance Film Festival: Another Earth

This review can also be found on Step2Inspire.

Have you ever wondered; what if there was another you out there? Is there a parallel version of you somewhere in the Universe? If so, what are they like? Are they a better or worse person than you are? Have they made the same mistakes, or taken the opportunities you missed?

This is essentially the premise of Another Earth. As I find myself frequently contemplating how many potential alternate versions of me may exist in the Multiverse (one sleepless night, I wondered about the possibility of there being a parallel Universe for every single decision everyone makes... Blimey, that's a lot of potential realities!) I couldn't pass up the opportunity to attend the UK premier of the film at the Raindance Film Festival opening gala.

Another Earth follows the story of Rhoda Williams (Brit Marling), an intelligent young woman who has just been accepted into MIT's astrophysics program. On the evening of the discovery of a mirror Earth (dubbed Earth 2), and after an injudicious night out, Rhoda inadvertently alters her life and that of brilliant composer and family man John Burroughs (William Mapother), and their shattered lives become irrevocably intertwined...

Written by Brit Marling and Mike Cahill, Another Earth's exploration of the possibility of a replica of our world takes the audience on a journey of introspection. Rather than exploring the parallel Earth in a literal sense, the narrative focuses more on the inner torment of the characters, using the appearance of Earth 2 as a backdrop for what is at it's core a story of human drama, and the lingering question – might things have turned out differently on Earth 2? The subtlety with which the SciFi premise is dealt with means it never goes over-board with trying to explain things, or being too 'showy' with the concept behind it, giving most of the attention to the story of Rhoda and John, which could have easily felt cheapened if the idea of a parallel Earth had been used as a gimmick rather than the intriguing framing device it is.

Marling's portrayal of the guilt-ridden Rhoda is a sublime insight into the character's tortured and self-deprecating soul. Throughout, she provides a wonderfully natural performance, bringing a very real essence to the role. Although Brit Marling is only really known in independent film circles, I wouldn't be surprised if in the years to come she will become a bigger contender in the industry.

Of course, bolstering Marling's superb performance was William Mapother as John Burroughs. Burroughs is initially depicted as a positive man, but he's soon left in a pit of depression and apathy, and this was something Mapother portrayed brilliantly. The chemistry between he and Marling felt as if it developed as the bond between the characters grew, from the awkward interactions at the beginning to their burgeoning friendship as the film continued. As the only two characters really driving the plot, it was remarkably engaging to watch their relationship develop.

It's incredibly easy to forget that this was an independently produced film, made on a shoe-string budget with minimal crew. Having been directed, produced, edited and co-written by Mike Cahill, he's evidently a man of many talents, bringing the brain-child Brit Marling and himself to life on such a grand scale. It's clear to see why Fox Searchlight Pictures thought that investing in this film and distributing it would be a good idea!

Several months ago, Dylan Spicer wrote this article about the trailer for the film, suggesting that it could prove to be this year's Moon. Having never seen Moon, I can't actually comment, but for those who have I'd be interested to know if you feel it is! Several people at the after party remarked that it was also similar to Monsters, another film I have not seen (makes you wonder if I'm in the right job, really, doesn't it?!), but they seemed to know what they were talking about, so I'm inclined to trust their opinion!

Overall, Another Earth is a brilliant personal drama set against the intriguing backdrop of a mirror Earth. It is a cinematic and narrative triumph, and for something that was produced on a low budget this is certainly an outstanding piece of cinema. It is not overtly Science Fiction (aside from the planet Earth hanging in the sky...), but I think that's what makes it such a success – a SciFi premise, but with a human drama at its heart.

What would you do if you met a parallel version of yourself? I think I'd be overjoyed to be in the presence of such brilliant company!

Raindance Film Festival: Hollow

This review can also be found on Step2Inspire.

Generally speaking, the things that scare me most are unexpectedly high utility bills and Janet Street-Porter, but I do have a weakness for psychological horror films. Not the in-your-face horrors of films like Saw, but the kind of fear that lurks at the back of your mind, nudging and prodding your unconscious, much like walking home alone late at night down a hauntingly empty alleyway. This is the kind of horror that Hollow achieves.

The first thing that strikes you about the piece is that it’s filmed entirely from the perspective of a video camera. It’s a bold move, one which has worked well for the likes of Cloverfield, and certainly feels like the perfect way to convey Hollow's narrative. Depicting two couples embarking on a weekend trip to the countryside, the story takes a sinister turn, embellished with ominous folklore and the complex character dynamics of the foursome. Scripted and produced by Matthew Holt, Hollow is an incredibly atmospheric film that draws you in from the outset.

As both a psychological horror and a character drama, the piece hinges strongly on the believability of the cast. With the combination of superb acting and sublime dialogue, along with the video camera perspective too, Hollow absolutely excels in portraying this group of friends in a chilling and engrossing narrative that's guaranteed to unnerve you. It takes a fair amount for something to scare me (I blame this relative immunity on my father for introducing me to the Alien films when I was eight! Having said that, though, I was terrified of the goblins in Noddy when I was four...), and although I can't profess to being truly terrified, I was definitely aware of a lurking sense of uneasiness throughout, a sense that grew more and more prominent towards the end!

It's exactly that kind of tantalising horror that I enjoy – the fear of knowing that something's going to happen any minute now, but it just keeps maliciously not happening. There's no release from that impending fear, and the tension continues to mount...

It's no mystery, then, as to why Hollow is nominated for Best Feature Film at Raindance Film Festival - an accolade it's more than deserving of. As I remarked immediately on exiting the auditorium, grinning moronically at Michael Axelgaard, director of Hollow, “thank f**k it's still light outside!”

If you're attending Raindance this year, this is one film you absolutely must not miss! For more information of Hollow, please click here.

Raindance Film Festival: How to Start a Revolution

This review can also be found on Step2Inspire.

With the recent struggles in Syria, Tunisia, Egypt, and Libya, it is now more than ever evident that people oppressed by dictatorial regimes have the power to claim back their lives and their freedom from their rulers. These primarily non-violent revolutions (Libya excluded) have reshaped the face of many nations across the globe and, whether people know it or not, these movements bear the hallmarks of the writings of Gene Sharp.

How to Start a Revolution documents the work of Gene Sharp, founder of the Albert Einstein Institute and author of From Dictatorship to Democracy, a thinker who propagates the dream of freedom to otherwise oppressed nations. His ideas and theories of non-violent protest and civil disobedience have helped bring this freedom to former dictatorships, inspiring revolution and unity among the oppressed, and bringing about new found liberties.

Sharp's ideas have been incorporated across the globe, reshaping oppressive governments and bringing power to the people through peaceful means. With his work being linked to the revolutions in Serbia, Georgia, Ukraine, Belarus Lithuania, and more recently in Syria, Tunisia and Egypt, it's clear that Sharp's influence has the power to change the face of the Earth. His writings have even gained him notoriety with many of the politicians they seek to overthrow, to the extent that two print shops that had dared to publish his writings were burnt down. Despite this, his word finds a way of reaching those who desire change, and help to inspire and galvanise revolution.

From the disturbing images of undue violence under dictatorial regimes and clips from the Korea and Vietnam wars, to the inspiring footage of tens of thousands of people in non-violent protest against their governments and snippets from interviews with Gene Sharp and his associates, How to Start a Revolution is a powerful and moving piece about the struggle for freedom that so many people face, and how the non-violent alternative is the best approach to bringing down dictatorships.

His 198 methods of non-violent protest literally are revolutionary, indicating that the fight for freedom needn't be fought with weapons, but with unity and justice. Gene Sharp is truly a shining exemplar for humanity, and although his work is not fully appreciated in our time, I hope that his legacy will one day go down in the history books as the man who helped liberate the oppressed and reshaped the civilisations of the world.

If you get a chance to see this documentary, I would highly recommend it. For more information on How to Start a Revolution, please click here.