90 Minutes of Short Films and Feels Review

For over twelve years, Wong Fu Productions, founded by Asian Americans, has been making Youtube content and short films with the aim of representing Asian Americans in popular culture. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, Wong Fu Productions decided to release a compilation of twelve of their short films, made over the past ten years. Here is a basic review of each of the short films in this collection:

Take it Slow

The first film in this showcase is a simple prom night that speaks to the forgotten romance of past generations. When the film begins, the two leads are returning from prom with a shy awkwardness. Through flashbacks, the audience is exposed to the boy’s conversation with his brother, which foreshadows the upcoming events. Yet, the films masterful play on emotions leads the audience in one direction, and ends in another. The only drawback is that the acting in the flashback seems a bit forced, but otherwise, it is a beautiful film.

Shell

The next is a story of the blurred lines between reality and fiction. With powerful production design, composed of a colorful ambience through its lighting and cinematography, the film ponders on the metaphor of a shell, that represents the memory that can capture anything that one wishes. The performances are outstanding, especially the man, whose dreamy eyes, represent his desire to achieve his fictional reality. The man and woman converse on their different perspectives of life and memory, leading to an open ending.

From Here On Out

At many times, the people working behind the counter go unnoticed. But this film takes the perspective of one of these individuals and his power of observation as he comes across many different people every day. It is an interesting take on perspective. Through the objects they purchase, he is able to learn about other’s lives. Eventually he develops a connection with one of his customers. A friendship that begins through observation, ends in conversation.

One

What if you could live your dream life? This short film explores the idea of living in alternate realities through a man, who is in one reality a struggling musician and in the other a famous star. The only binding force across these realities is the girl who in both cases pushes him to be a better version of himself. While the idea is interesting, it is a bit confusing as the switch between the two worlds isn’t easy to understand. In fact, this film would have been better as a feature, wherein the two versions of the character could be explored in more depth.

Somewhere Like This

A simple coincidence leads to a surprising encounter. Two individuals who had a past meet again after years and relive their memories through their gifts for one another. While the film is sweet at first, it continues in a clichéd manner and doesn’t lead to any profound conclusion. The deep emotions aren’t developed and the relations exist purely on the surface, thus the audience is unable to fully connect with either of the characters.

These Four Walls

This isn’t a short film with a narrative. This is a short film with an artistic purpose. It is a beautiful artistic portrayal of a simple object twirling across different locations over time. Everything changes around it, yet it remains alive and unchanging. It seems a bit bland as there is no progression or captivating idea. Yet, just simple art suffices in creating a beautiful short video (I wouldn’t classify it as filmmaking in the traditional sense).

When Five Fell 

In this short, a young girl goes through her daily activities, as the objects around her tell a story. The film is narrated through the perspectives of objects from her glasses, to her phone, to her umbrella, and so on so forth. They each have a relationship with her and her journey, and each go through several changes in respect to her journey. Though the story progression is not very strong, the idea is extremely unique, and the interesting use of visuals captivates the audience in the absence of story.

Love Lock 

This is the only of the films not starring a person of color. Yet, it is created by Wong Fu Productions, which is headed by people of color. The film explores the idea of binding a physical lock on a bridge to indicate the eternity of love. Yet, it dissects the futility of this practice as the man and women have two different ways of looking at past, present, and future. The man who has made such a promise in the past, is unsure about repeating his actions while the girl is just thinking about their current relationship and their future. Ultimately, both of them find a medium through which their ideas blend, and the film reaches a beautiful ending. 

Crossing Point

A couple’s relationship progresses in unimaginable directions over time. The woman, whose experience in relationships is vast, attempts to explain the void to her boyfriend in the most mechanical way possible. She categorizes love in terms of graphs, making this confusing feeling statistical and simple to understand. Yet, the question that dogs the viewers till the end, even as the audience is left to decide the couple’s fate, is whether the feeling of love is so simple, that it can be explained statistically, yet so beautifully. The performances are endearing and this unique take on a relationship, keeps the audience intrigued.

Accumulated 

Feelings are complicated. Two friends, a man who has suffered in love, and a woman aspiring to be in love, have a deep conversation, during which hidden feelings are revealed. The camera, with its close ups, and the facial expressions combined portray the seemingly one-sided love of the girl as the man poetically contemplates on his past.  As the film progresses, they grow more understanding of this word, “love”. And as experience grows, love becomes more complicated. 

Left On Shing Wong

During this short film, a man ponders on his memory of what the city used to be. He has a chance encounter with a dream girl who tells him the story of the steps that have gotten lost in the rush of the city. While the idea is interesting, the execution is weak. The film attempts to be extremely metaphorical, but comes out seeming too forced. There is nothing memorable about the dialogues, characters or the story.

The Last 

The last short film in this series, conveniently titled The Last, explores how the past effects the present. A man recounts his past loves to his girlfriend, but through this recollection, he not only tells her a story but also relives the change in his love over time. The film is not profound, yet also not bland. It’s just a sweet and simple ending to this showcase.