Short - International Release, Vol. 3 (2001)

The third "issue" of the remarkable short video series SHORT INTERNATIONAL features the Academy Award winning Scottish film "Franz Kafka's It's A Wonderful Life." The film stars acclaimed British actor Richard E. Grant (WITHNAIL AND I) as a man who wakes up to find he has turned into a very large banana. In addition the short documentary "Guggenheim Bilboa Museum" features its architect Frank Gehry as narrator the indie pop bands Tahiti 80 and Mojave 3 give live performances and interviews with two acclaimed film directors Michael Apted (THE WORLD IS NOT ENOUGH) and Constantin Costa-Gavras (MISSING) " are all included. Finally four comparably innovative and exciting short films are included all of which prove that the short film will always be a medium for visual and narrative experimentation.System Requirements:Running Time: 100 MinFormat: DVD MOVIE Genre: MISCELLANEOUS/SPECIAL INTEREST Rating: NR UPC: 085393732028 Product Description

Terrific collection of strange films and interviews

In addition to the short films, there are fascinating interviews with filmmakers Michael Apted and Costa-Gavras and musicians Tahiti 80 (great band from France) and Mojave 3.

The Franz Kafka's It's A Wonderful Life film won an Academy Award -- and deservedly so. It's basically Richard E. Grant from Withnail & I (a great film!) going nuts. Totally worth watching again with the director commentary and then flipping back and forth with the storyboards, which are better than you'd expect.

There's also an interestingly animated short from Sweden called Aprikoser, which has a funny commentary by a woman whose only connection to the film is she speaks Swedish and is willing to translate for us. She does a good job, adding in her own comments as she goes along.

Finally, Boundaries is a longish short film that made me laugh out loud several times. It's basically one joke that somehow keeps on working each time it's used. It's great. Apparently, it's been winning lots of film festivals around the world. It would be great to see on the big screen since it's so nicely photographed. May 15, 2001

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