The Nashville Film Festival concluded its run on Thursday, and here’s a recap of the four films I saw from the midpoint of the festival to its close.
MAGIC CAMP
A kindly documentary if there ever was one, Judd Ehrlich’s Magic Camp takes a look at the week-long journey of five aspiring magicians as they try to hone their craft at the legendary Tannen’s Magic Camp.
The film offers five strong subjects – a seasoned camper who hopes to once again claim the week’s competition prize, a nine-year-old budding magician who takes his talent very seriously, a teen that uses his magic skills as a way to honor God, an enthusiastic young female magician who tries to stand out in a field of guys and a magician suffering from Tourette’s Syndrome.
With Magic Camp, Ehrlich offer up an earnest look at a gifted group of youngsters who use magic as a way to socialize, deal with personal issues and fulfill lifelong dreams. It’s a documentary that champions the idea that kids need outlets like magic to truly be their original selves – a praiseworthy message if there ever was one.
A good documentary leaves you hopelessly invested in the focal points, and thankfully, the five kids in Magic Camp were such strong hinges to hang the film’s message on, this documentary is able to elevate itself above what I expected a feature about a magic camp would be like.
Simply put, Magic Camp was one of NaFF’s stronger documentaries.
THE LAND OF EB
A smaller feature that screened at the festival, The Land of Eb took the prize for the most impressive narrative feature I saw at NaFF.
Taking place on the smaller area of Hawaii, the film follows Jacob, a farmer that realizes that he’s suffering from a tumor. He tries to get his affairs in order before his voluntary passing, which largely involves trying to pay off his family’s debts in lieu of paying for medical costs. Akin to a modern-day Job, Jacob must prepare himself for the worst as he deals with his struggles.
Director Andrew Williamson has crafted a beautifully devastating portrait of strength in the midst of a hardship. The Land of Eb is a quietly watchful movie – one that relies heavily on the power of observance to tell its gripping story. Every silent shot tells more than a paragraph of dialogue ever could. The Land of Eb is also a film that invests a lot in the lead performance, and actor Jonithen Jackson delivers a masterful performance as Jacob, showcasing the character’s grace with skill.
On top of a great performance, the director’s artistic eye flourishes throughout, and the cinematography can be an excellent aid to the storytelling. Williamson is a guy who deserves to take on a major studio product after showing what he can do with The Land of Eb. The film is a powerful wrecking ball of emotion – one that still sticks with me as I write this review.
UNFINISHED SONG
The festival’s closing night film, Unfinished Song is a moving dramedy that highlights some strong acting and a deft screenplay.
The film follows Arthur (Terence Stamp), a somber recluse whose wife Marion (the delightful Vanessa Redgrave) performs in a local choir for the elderly, led by Gemma Arterton’s Elizabeth. When Marion’s health begins to decline, her protective husband begins to shield her from the choir. In reaction to Marion’s terminal diagnosis and the events that follow, Arthur is forced to change his sour attitude towards life, which included repairing a relationship with his son (Christopher Eccleston).
Writer/director Paul Andrew Williams has crafted a beaming ray of bittersweet sunshine. While film doesn’t shy away illuminating the tragedy of Marion and Arthur’s situation, the overall message of the final product is one of optimism that proves that even a curmudgeon like Arthur can be transformed by the power of music and interpersonal relationships.
Arterton and Eccleston offer quality work, and Stamp and Redgrave are as powerful as can be as Arthur and Marion. Williams draws jarring performances out of both of the leads, which is the result of ideal casting. The storytelling is also well done, as Williams’ decidedly unflashy script works wonders.
Unfinished Song was a wonderful way to close out a strong festival in Nashville.
I also had the chance to screen an unfinished cut of the upcoming documentary Music City U.S.A. which, at first glance, is a nice tribute to Nashville’s roots and the struggles the city went through during the catastrophic flooding of 2010. The final product should be worth a watch.
All in all, the 2013 Nashville Film Festival was another strong chapter in the festival’s history, and I’m already eagerly anticipating next year’s lineup.