Going It Alone
Still from Atelier dir: Elsa María Jakobsdóttir
ATELIER
A young woman travels to a remote studio utopia intent on spiritual reset only to find her solitude disrupted by an experimental sound artist. A stunning work of atmosphere, both mysterious and transparent, “Atelier” sets its worldly concerns in an otherworldly place, a stark modernist structure built in the middle of the woods. Directed by Elsa María Jakobsdóttir, an Icelandic director based in Denmark, it’s a singular experience, intriguing, suspenseful, and slyly funny. [30 minutes]
CONTOURS
An Asian-American teenager takes refuge in a hotel suite as she recovers from cosmetic eyelid surgery. “Contours,” by director Javian Ashton Le, is a minimalist drama about identity and class. A wonderfully rendered expression of insecurity, thoughtfully crafted and beautifully shot. [12 minutes]
DISINTEGRATION
A woman searches for sounds in an abandoned building. This stylish experimental film about noise and movement, made by Masumi Saito and Guy Wigmore, is filled with stunning natural light images, and the entrancing presence of Saito. There’s a subtle sense of humor running throughout merging seamlessly with its sense of curiosity and gracefulness. [6 minutes]
OUTLINE
A young woman spirals into darkness following the death of her mother. Set against a desolate Nordic backdrop, “Outline,” directed by Anna Fredrikke Bjerke, is a minimalist character study tracking the grief of Thea over the course of a couple rocky days. It’s an affecting portrait of inner turmoil enriched by picturesque visuals and a terrific performance by Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas. [11 minutes]
PUSSY / CIPKA
A young woman spends the evening alone at home and decides to have some solo pleasure, but not everything goes according to plan. A film by Renata Gąsiorowska, “Pussy / Cipka,” is a brilliantly conceived, charmingly executed film about elusive sexual satisfaction. Its simple but sophisticated sense of composition, color, and movement are used to explore both mundane detail and surreal flights of fancy, both portrayed with a vivid soundscape and sharp sense of humor. [8 minutes].
MIDNIGHT CONFESSION
In West Berlin in 1989, Manny Jumpcannon prowls his dingy apartment phoning various degenerates from his past. Maxwell McCabe-Lokos directs and stars in “Midnight Confession,” a darkly funny character study which paints a remarkably full backstory of deceit from a series of unsolicited phone calls. McCabe-Lokos is a fascinating figure of underground cinema, both as an actor and director, and his new film further cements his incisive brand of miserabilism with perfectly authentic performances and vivid scene building. [10 minutes]
IMAGINARY FRIEND
Helen, a lonely and isolated woman, is given the opportunity to connect with people from her past using a new augmented reality device. “Imaginary Friend,” by director Zach Rubin, is an intriguing, deeply felt drama about a modern world where human intimacy is replaced with digital stand-ins. Beautifully composed and carried by terrific performances, Rubin’s film is an ingenuously simple rumination on loneliness and the disturbing possibilities of a technology obsessed future. [16 minutes]