In an unusual spaghetti western setting, a man - played by Ilarion Ciobanu - returns to his home village after spending time at the front. He finds his wife in the company of another man - played by Anușavan Salamanian - who is also raising his son. The confrontation between the two is at its most intense when they exchange glances that, in Ciobanu's case, seem to be a textbook study in Clint Eastwood's taciturn protagonist from Sergio Leone's famous trilogy. In many ways, People Aren't Goats stands out among all the other student films of the period. But the point where it proves most particular is its belonging to a genre - spaghetti western - at that time still new worldwide, whose national exponent will remain Ilarion Ciobanu, through the roles he played in the singular western trilogy, released a few years later, in which the people of the Ardennes go through all sorts of adventures.
"Warrior" is a Bruce Lee written and inspired story that follows a diverse cast of Chinese American characters and does a terrific job of setting the story in 1878 San Francisco - all without pulling their punches with the systemic racism, discrimination, and struggle for power that old and young immigrants that crossed the country at that time had to go through.
Neon Gravity is an assassin who realizes that her target, as well as her current reality, are not what they seem. This short film is a futuristic story that takes place in Downtown Miami.
The social issues The Half of it takes on are handled well, between the antagonization brought on to Ellie for her race and the conflict that arises from her being gay. Both aspects of her character are built up over the course of the film and don’t seem abrupt or rushed. The film shows racism towards Ellie and her and father in varying levels, from having her schoolmates specifically address her as "Chinese girl” to the fore mentioned way her Dad is treated due to language barriers. The same can be said about Ellie being a lesbian. While she never truly “comes out” in the narrative, that does not undermine her journey of self-discovery from being meaningful. These ideas aren’t thrust upon the viewer in a preachy manor, the scenarios that occur feel believable given the rural setting. The film presents watchers with problems whom those like Ellie may face, and leaves us to sit with them and reflect.
In this high-flying mission, the pups gear up with jets to stop the Duke of Flappington and save Barkingburg.
