The power of short films

“Heaven is a Traffic Jam on the 405” is a raw, emotional and moving story of Mindy, an artist battling with mental illness and broken family life. Her childhood laid the foundation for complex relationships with her mother, father and those around her. The title of the film alludes to where she feels safer and at home beyond doing her artwork. The way the film is put together allows for the audience to feel as though they are having these intimate conversations with Mindy. The b-roll of her artwork, process and supplies adds to the visual appeal of the film. With sounds such as the shaking of pill bottles and the selection of markers from a bag, the viewer is more aware of how these elements are a daily part of Mindy’s life. What makes this film powerful is the intimacy established with the candidness of the interviews and fusion of past imagery (home videos and photographs) and present imagery (artwork and the daily life of Mindy).

“Period. End of Sentence” is a bit of a fast-paced short film documenting the struggle for women in India fighting the stigma surrounding menstruation. Additionally, the film documents the creation of a machine to manufacture sanitary pads. The film highlights a real situation taking place in a country and culture that we in America might not fully be aware of. What I found empowering about the film was the women’s drive and fight to not only create the pads but market them for placement in local businesses. It goes beyond showing the issue but places emphasis on the women standing up and pushing for what is right. It is a powerful film about perseverance and sheds light on the stigma around menstruation, even beyond the Indian culture. 

“Black Sheep” is a powerful story of a man who as a teen experienced extreme racism. Later, he would go on to bleach his skin, use blue colored contacts and change his demeanor in order to assimilate with the racists who targeted him. Of the three films, this to me was the most intriguing and relatable. The narrator himself never fully admits his actions were wrong, but rather acknowledges becoming like the “monsters” in order to feel love. It’s a complex story told in an intimate with recreated scenes to keep the viewer engaged. Overall, I felt this film deals with a subject that is as relevant today as ever. The way the film was structured also allowed the viewer to feel as though it was just them and the narrator.