Blocks (USA)
3 stars out of 5
Not affiliated with the Lego Movie series, but the popular connecting blocks do play a role here. We have a stressed-out mom and something strange starts happening. It’s basically one joke, but likable enough.
Play Schengen
2.5 stars out of 5
Cute and timely concept — gamers pitching a bird-themed educational video game about Europe, immigration, etc. And there’s a touch of Terry Gilliam in the grim corporate setting. However, the film never really, uh, takes wing.
Sticker (Macedonia)
4 stars out of 5
Another grim modern tale. The DMV is out of stickers and you wouldn’t believe the troubles this causes our protagonist as he attempts to visit his estranged young daughter. We laugh at and sympathize with him facing off against bureaucracy, as the comedic Kafka-esque action builds to a boil.
David (USA)
3.5 stars out of 5
I’m a fan of Zach Woods (Jared on Silicon Valley, Gabe from The Office), so I was pleased to see directorial debut. Will Ferrell is a therapist seeing a very distressed patient. Ah, but the therapist’s teen son wants him to come to his wrestling match, which is at the same time. It is absurd and funny, although ends up becoming a little too silly.
Virago (Estonia)
2.5 stars out of 5
There’s a clever conceit here: An Estonian village in which women do all the hard work and the men are layabouts… oh, and also, the men drop dead before turning 40. This results in cute sequences — as the women attempt to protect their dudes from harm — but they don’t quite add up to a really strong statement.
Stump the Guesser (Canada)
4.5 stars out of 5
Guy Maddin is one my absolute favorite filmmakers; thanks to my friend Cat for alerting me to the existence of this new short which he co-wrote and co-directed. If you’re mad for Maddin like me, you won’t be surprised to know this is set in a sepia-toned old-timey dreamworld. At a crowded carnival, our titular guesser correctly divines ages, number of fish — anything asked of him! But the guesser gets a double dose of trouble: his predictive powers begin to wane, and… his comely sister suddenly appears. Delightful insanity!
Jack Silbert, curator