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The third program of the D.C. Shorts fest is full of ambition with mostly successful results. It begins strong but doesn’t end well. A well-curated mix of gross-out comedy, true life tragedy, 21st century romance and moral lessons, the program attempts to please everyone—and comes pretty close.
Squeeze: Well shot, edited and acted jail-break action comedy that thrives in feces. This will please Simon Pegg fans.
Leonids Geschichte: A nicely stylized mixture of hand drawn animation, historical footage and on-camera interviews tell the heartbreaking story of a family impacted by the Chernobyl disaster. It’s highlight of the program.
Twisted Proverbs: Candle: Breaking up the heaviness of Leonids with this very quick observation wasn’t a bad choice. But it’s not something you need to see.
TGIF: Too cute and too long at 10 minutes, this story of text-message flirting makes me never want to go out with friends.
La Derniere Rondelle: Based on the trailer, this appears to be a heartbreaking experience for anyone who loves hockey or someone with Alzheimer’s.
Os Anjos Do Meio Da Praca: A somewhat heavy handed, moral-driven, computer animation about a fallen angel that could air on a religious/inspirational channel.
Tattoo: 18 creepy and well-used minutes in a Tattoo parlor. It won’t gross you out if you hate gross-out horror.
Worn: A good lead in a decent premise. But also full of people really trying to be deep about what it’s like to be a single lady in L.A. There’s a big eh as a result.
Sunday, Sept 11 at 12 p.m. at E Street Cinema
Wednesday, Sept 14 at 7 p.m. at E Street Cinema