Portobello Film Festival rundown 2010

(King Conny Wobble: 14mins, 12A)

Rating: 1/5

Providing an ethereal glimpse of a vast expanse of countryside, Conny Wobble's Dream follows its sole character's dream which is a simple, seemingly aimless, ramble through a mountainous landscape. The simple premise makes for an even simpler film which attempts to rein its viewer's waning interest back in through showing the dream-representation of what we are left to assume is Conny Wobble himself defecating in the countryside. With some eyebrow-raising use of effects and highly intruding music, Conny Wobble's Dream is notable only for its backdrop.

(Divian Ladwa: 10mins 12A)

Rating: 1.5/5

'Do you wanna know who the best is? Me.' proclaims the boxer, the protagonist of Ladwa's documentary-styled short. Documenting the musings of its main character, The Boxer lays heavy importance on its sole character and in turn provides a contracted view of mortality and loss. A word of warning for those trying to find multiple layers of exploration in the film; trying to second-guess what the film is portraying is futile – it is not an entirely taxing, but rather an intriguing, exploration of jealousy and peer pressure. Filmed solely in black and white, The Boxer considers the reality of accepting that your life's goal is over and the repercussions of such an awareness.

(JC Kamau: 79mins, 12)

Rating: 1/5

JC Kamau's P. O. E. T. S in a Dead Society is an oddity. A documentary comprised of interviews with a group of seemingly unrelated artists, P. O. E. T. S looks at inspiration and the lack of respect for the inspiration in the world around us.

The editing process of the film is perhaps its biggest downfall; despite the fact that its premise is an intriguing one, the choice to allow it to be 79 minutes long coupled with the poor transitions and the intruding questionable use of fonts throughout take a lot away from the film's power. Due to these the film appears to be a rough cut of a short, taken to the festival in its infancy before it has been finished.

Due to its stylistic failings it attempts, but ultimately fails, to capture a sense of art and creativity. Its point is sometimes preached at too much length and thus its main speakers seem to enforce their arguments to no avail. The ultimate dismay portrayed toward our modern society is overplayed and because of this it becomes rather too preachy to have the impact it may have done if it was forty minutes shorter. It becomes increasingly political and scattered toward the end which detracts from what could have been a hugely rewarding film. With aspirational assertions such as 'anything and everything around you is your teacher' it's a shame that this film's main lesson is not to watch it again.

Rating: 1.5/5

Embracing the festival's invitation to submit independent projects, Cricklewood Broadway was a last minute addition to the bill. After a slight technical blip the film began and the audience was met with the apparently dead form of the film's narrator. Cricklewood Broadway delves into a strange barrage of black comedy and several attempts to mislead the viewers. Although it succeeds in the latter, the way in which the film misleads in done in such a way that exposés are confusing and unnecessary.

After the narrator happens upon the strange life of 'mistress', a failed actress whose brief glimpse of fame is maintained by her odd man servant, the film spirals between one odd occurrence to the next.

Whilst watching, viewers may find that they may have preferred a film that followed the actress's character arc and her ability (or lack of) to deal with rejection and loss. The film instead follows the narrator and never allows for any of the three main character's lives to be truly touched upon. What is left is a strange mix of comedy and depression that seems to mix like oil and water.

(Clayton Fussell and Ashley Wing: 3mins, U)

Rating: 3.5/5

A likeable short, although the premise for OMG is short and simple, the outcome is an enjoyable one. After Malcolm sends a text asking for forgiveness he watches in horror as his signal disappears. The resulting search for signal is unchallenging to watch but amusing nonetheless. When he finally receives his response sod's law steps in and leaves Malcolm in text purgatory – does he ever find out what if he was forgiven? That's for the audience to ponder. With its neat filming and good use of sound as well as its cheery end credits, OMG is a small breath of fresh air.

(Ida Akesson: 8mins, 12)

Rating: 2.5/5

Door to Door follows the failing attempts of Eunice to live up to her congregation's expectations for her to preach door to door. Her inability to carry out their wishes provides a few comic moments. The short is well-filmed and the making of tea provides a nice continuity throughout.