Bluebird Pictures is a production company based in East London and its recent offering is the World Cinema Film Festival, an event held virtually as well as in-person. The festival plays host to a plethora of short films penned and directed by filmmakers from across the globe; many of these cover important global and sociopolitical issues. From virtual reality projects to the best of young talent, global cinema, and the female perspective, there’s something for everyone. Here are some of the shorts I was fortunate enough to catch at the virtual edition of WCFF.
1. ‘My Morning Routine’ (2020)
“My Morning Routine.” Submitted photo.
This short by Georgie Cowan Turner is a must-watch for anyone who’s fallen prey to the allure of flawless skin. It begins with a young influencer who runs a make-up tutorial channel on YouTube. A screen in front of her showcases an array of female faces (mostly from the 1950s era) caked in makeup.
The screen is further inscribed with the message of being a better version of herself; she soon she finds herself partaking in a skincare regime that involves lathering her face in all sorts of creams and lotions, smothering it in face masks. She even goes to the extent of ingesting some of these creams and contouring her face until she is unrecognisable; this all takes place while a voiceover eggs her on to do more and more to achieve perfect skin. The film has an undertone of peer pressure, and what one will do to fit in, irregardless of the cost.
This short is a hard-watch. If you wish to learn about how nightmarish it is for women to live up to unachievable beauty standards by indulging in unhealthy practices, this movie’s tailor-made for that purpose.
The music by C is for Noir adds to the atmosphere of unease created, and lead actor Hannah Briercliffe delivers a nuanced performance. Her ability to express a range of emotions—from joy to disgust and even a strange sense of detachment from her true self—elevate this short film and make it a memorable yet disturbing watch.
2. ‘No Beloved’ (2021)
“No Beloved.” Submitted photo.
A local chaiwala (tea stall owner) goes about his daily routine of preparing tea for customers; he goes home to the wife and kids in the evenings, grocery shops, and then repeats. This is until a chance encounter with two regulars forces him to confront his past and bring up bitter memories.
The short is an eye-opener to how society perceives homosexuality, which many consider an ugly and unnatural act. “No Beloved” in particular is set in Lahore, Pakistan, where homosexuality is even considered a punishable offence.
Ahsen Murad plays the chaiwala Ehsaan and he emotes very well. Considering there isn’t much dialogue, he does a tremendous job at conveying his inner-conflict; he wants to be himself and love who he wants to love, but cannot do so without consequences. As a result, he cannot help but maliciously lash out at the two lovers who frequent his shop and who openly express their love for each other without fear.
“No Beloved” is a must-watch for everyone who desires to learn about the turmoil faced by the LGBTQIA+ community. This is especially true in certain parts of the world where it is still considered a crime to love.
3. ‘Seeking Zeke’ (2021)
“Seeking Zeke.” Submitted photo.
Zeke, a loyal translator who is fluent in both English and Kurdish is forced to choose between freedom and family when an authority figure enlists him in entrapping a criminal. Zeke obviously craves freedom; but when the opportunity of a lifetime presents itself, he realizes that his life hangs in the balance as well. Faced with a dilemma, Zeke seeks an escape from it all.
A lot of thought seems to have gone into the cinematography, lighting, and other production values of this short film which makes it stand out. “Seeking Zeke” starts out as a slick crime caper, but it is also laced with dry humour and some light comedic moments between Zeke and his handler, so it’s never a dull watch.
While the performances—especially Dimitri Raft as the intimidating antagonist and Hakan Hoca as the protagonist Zeke—were good and felt natural, my only complaint was Phil Atkinson’s hammy acting in parts. But apart from that minor complaint, “Seeking Zeke” is a good one-time watch elevated by its production value. It’s also a must-watch for fans of stylish neo noir espionage thrillers.
4. ‘Hair Care Assurance’ (2021)
“Hair Care Assurance.” Submitted photo.
This short film consists of stills and video clips of people from the Black community sporting the hairstyles that define them as well as their culture. This all takes place while a rousing spoken word poem plays in the background.
From afros to braids, “Hair Care Assurance” is a celebration of hair within the Black community and its importance in defining not only an entire culture and community, but also in how it shapes an individual. After all, it goes without saying that ‘the way a person carries their hair also defines how they carry themselves.’
5. ‘Jade’ (2020)
“Jade.” Submitted photo.
Meet Jade from Clapham Junction. She is a refugee and a pious lady who drowns her sorrows by writing poetry; she finds strength in dealing with racist plonkers by taking inspiration from the rebellious potty mouth character ‘Del Boy’ from the popular comedy sitcom “Only Fools and Horses.”
“Jade” is part of filmmaker Lara Singer’s “Stories Untold” series covering the lives of immigrants in London who are either thriving or gradually struggling to come to terms with their new life. This is just like Jade Jackson, whose past is marred by the ‘stupid things that other people choose to do.’
The short film takes a documentary approach, allowing Jade to narrate her own bittersweet personal journey. And the poetry reading of her poem “Freedom” at the end of the short further cements the film’s tenets. In a world that is slowly losing its humanity, we need more hopeful, determined, and open-minded people like Jade who cherish every moment of the second chance that they’ve been handed and who pray for a better world.
The in-person edition of WCFF will take place at The Boathouse Creative Studios, Abbey Road from September 21-26; so if you’re a London native or a cinephile looking for a quick fix, book your tickets at this link: http://worldcinemafilmfestival2021.eventbrite.com/
More details can be found on the Instagram page of Bluebird Pictures here.
