#REVIEW: “CURFEW” & “BUZKASHI BOYS”

With the Oscars soon to come, it perhaps is time to shed some light on the lesser-recognized talents on Film’s biggest night – the Short Films. In the running this year for Oscar Gold this year include  Buzkashi Boys and Curfew, both distributed internationally by Ouat Media. The two Pieces paint a picture of the grim realities of life in the contemporary World, in opposite Hemispheres.

CURFEW

Curfew – directed, written and acted by Shawn Christensen (Writer of 2011’s Abduction) – centers around a Man named Richie whom while at the lowest point in his life ready to end it all, gets an urgent call from his Sister Maggie (Kim Allen) to babysit his estranged Daughter Sophia (Fatima Ptacek).  Despite finding it difficult to connect with his strictly-regimented Daughter, over the span of the night she gets answers to questions she’s always wanted to know, while he sees a glimmer of hope and gains a renewed purpose in life through the complex, smart and endearing Sophia.

Christensen who equally is adept as a Writer as he is an Actor, examines Circumstance and Choice in Curfew. Although it generally paints a cold, cynical World through the eyes of a Protagonist who has faced his share of disappointment, its message is an uplifting one of hope.  We all need somebody and we all need something to live for if not ourselves.

Watch the Trailer here.

Order it on iTunes here.

BUZKASHI BOYS

Set in modern Afghanistan, Buzkashi Boys directed by Sam French, follows two young Boys determined to escape their grim lives in a war-torn Country. Rafi (Fawad Mohammadi) and Ahmad (Jawanmard Paiz) are Best Friends, who dream of becoming Buzkashi Players – the Country’s National Sport, which is similar to Polo but with a headless goat.  The former is under pressure from his Father (Wali Talash) to follow his footsteps in becoming a Blacksmith, much to his chagrin.   Ahmad is a Street Child whom  after one day after deciding to steal a horse, causes Rafi‘s world to unravel – a sobering realization of the realities of life.

Beautifully shot under the watchful eye of Duraid Munajim, Buzkashi Boys is set against a  gray landscape, perfectly encapsulating the endless  cycle of hopelessness they have been born into.  Sparsely-written yet remarkably reflective still, it is almost impossible not to feel a compelling need for change without the Film ever feeling manipulative.

Watch the Trailer here.

Both Curfew and  Buzkashi Boys are a part of The Oscar Nominated Short Films of 2013: Live Action, playing currently a TIFF Bell Lightbox.