- Flipping Out (documentary)
- South Main (documentary)
- Ballast
So that's it. Thirty five films in eight days.
Flipping Out
An Israeli critical look at the tradition of its military members, after serving the mandatory three years, taking their 15,000 shekel bonus, and going to India to live a drug-induced life as they reflect on their deeds during their service and their post-military life. A good many of these former soldiers (men and women) “flip out” mentally, whether due to the massive amounts of drugs or finally coming to terms with some of the horrors of war isn’t clear. A well-made documentary though I felt manipulated by two of the episodes that I believe were artificially created by the filmmakers purely for dramatic purposes.
South Main
A look at three women in South Central Los Angeles and how they’re dealing with life after being forced by the city to move from their apartments, which were condemned due to the number of gang murders in the dwelling. Each lost loved ones during the period of killing.
Ballast
Set in rural Mississippi, this is another film that takes a look at how a person handles grief. A black man has just lost his twin to suicide and after a failed attempt on himself, struggles to get back on the tracks of life. His deceased twin’s wife and son have their own problems but by the end of this story there is hope for all three. A slow film shot beautifully in a hand-held, grainy, documentary style. I’m not sure the filmmaker gives us enough of a story to hold onto as this film moves slowly. A good many of the press members left this film throughout the screening as it apparently didn’t hold their attention.
