Ancestors
SIFF link and summary for the series: Ancestors
70 minutes
The spirit remembers what it means to be in relationship to all beings, past, present and future, seen and unseen.
Screening: streaming at home.
Audience: two.
Snacks: bagels and leftovers (lunch).
Ad: Waikiki - Hawaiian film; looks good.
Presenter: Tracy Rector
SIFF link and summary: Sky Aelans
Solomon Islands, 2020; 7 minutes; directors Edward Manuga (Solomon Islander), Georgianna Lepping, Jeremy Gwao, Regina Lepping, Zahiyd Namo, Junior Patrick Makau, Manner Levo, Neil Nuia, Daniel Kakadi (Solomon Islanders)
A celebration of the vital bond between the communities of the Solomon Islands' last untouched rainforest, as they claim their rights as the ancestral guardians of these sacred high mountain forests, known locally as the "Sky Aelans."
This documentary short features beautiful scenic view of the protected lands above 400 meters altitude, with scenes of indigenous people telling why their ancestral lands are important to them. It's nice, but it doesn't really tell a story.
One thing I found fascinating about this was the language: the vocabulary was mostly English words, but there were a lot of unfamiliar words mixed in.
In addition to "J" and I, "T" watched this one.
Language: Pijin, with English subtitles.
Rating: Short films aren't awarded ratings in the US, but this film would probably rate a "PG-13" if they were.
SIFF link and summary: Lichen
Canada, 2020; 12 minutes; director Lisa Jackson (Anishinaabe)
Ancient and diverse, thriving in adversity, confounding scientists to this day, lichen is a model of emergence.
Featuring Lichens (in order of appearance) Tree-huggers' pelt Universal rockworm Greylandic map Big-horn pixie Pebbled pixie-cup Smokers' lung Diamond pelt Distributed goldspeck Lungwort Rockface firedot Pitted speckleberry Elegant sunburst British soldiers Ground dust Stump pixie Rusting tile Bronzed pixie-cup Nameless pelt Maritime sunburst Lungwort Toy-soldiers Sheepish pelt
The photography of the lichens was beautiful. The narration was more philosophical than scientific, which struck me as rather strange for a documentary about living things. The credits listed the common names of all the species featured, but not the formal Genus-species names.
Rating: Short films aren't awarded ratings in the US, but this film would probably rate a "G" if they were.
SIFF link and summary: The Fourfold
Canada, 2020; 8 minutes; director Alisi Telengut (Mongolian/Siberian)
An animated return to the traditional beliefs and rituals of Mongolia and Siberia where nature-the homeland of human beings-struggles against "modernity" and environmental degradation.
The animation in this film was an interesting mix of paintings and stop-motion animation. Some of the paintings were repeatedly overpainted; others were just used as backgrounds. The stop-motion animation was mostly bits of vegetation and other natural materials.
The music was wonderful.
I rate the film good, bordering on very good; I would have liked to see more story presented, but the animation was so good that I didn't hold the thin story against it.
Language: Mongolian
Rating: Short films aren't awarded ratings in the US, but this film would probably rate a "PG" if they were.
SIFF link and summary: Halpate
USA, 2020; 14 minutes; directors Adam Piron (Kiowa/Mohawk), Adam Khalil (Ojibway)
The Seminole Tribe has been publicly alligator wrestling for over a century, risking life and limb to improve the lives of the wrestlers and their people.
This was a very interesting film. It told the story of how the Seminole people were forced into the Everglades, and initially survived partly by hunting alligators. A white entrepreneur decided to make some money by building show villages for tourists and employing Seminoles for a pittance; the alligator wrestling shows were particularly popular. The Seminoles eventually built their own tourist villages, and put on shows of their native cultural traditions, and continued the alligator wrestling shows. With the arrival of Native gambling, fewer Natives are willing to continue the dangerous tradition; more alligator wrestlers today are thrill-seeking white people.
The film concludes with a memorable quote: "Remember, before Native gaming, it was alligator wrestling that put food on our plates."
(Although I found it memorable, I may still have misquoted it to an extent.)
I rate this documentary short excellent. It told a story I didn't know that I'd want to know, and tells it well.
Rating: Short films aren't awarded ratings in the US, but this film would probably rate a "PG-13" if they were.
SIFF link and summary: "Ethereal" ("Ka tatishtipatakanit")
Canada, 2020; 2 minutes; Isabelle Kanapé (Innu)
A man spreads rumours about a local elder. To be forgiven, he will be put to the test.
This tells a fable, which I assume is a traditional story of the Innu people. It's beautifully illustrated and well told. I rate it very good.
Language: Innu
Rating: Short films aren't awarded ratings in the US, but this film would probably rate a "PG-13" if they were.
SIFF link and summary: Pluck
New Zealand, 2020; 27 minutes; directors Kirsty Griffin (Ngati Porou, Ngati Awa), Viv Kernick
Facing a battle with cancer, Jean is on a mission to weave her last Korowai, a Maori feather cloak and final gift to her daughter.
This documentary not only describes an interesting art form, the Korowai, it also features a woman who learns how to make them - while struggling with cancer. Her art is complicated by the availability of the favored feathers: the birds are a protected species on New Zealand, but an abundant pest on the Chatham Islands, so she must either gather them as roadkill at home or travel 1000 km to where they're more easily found.
This short is mostly live action, but it includes animated scenes of feathers in cut scenes.
I rate this film excellent.
Language: English, but the New Zealand accent is so thick that it takes careful listening to understand.
Rating: Short films aren't awarded ratings in the US, but this film would probably rate a "PG-13" if they were.