Live Action Shorts - 1 nomination each

 

Ayn Levana (White Eye)

Much to my chagrin, the Academy seems to only embrace films about Israel that are either deeply self critical or are outrageously one-note and offensive.  White Eye is the former.  A man finds his stolen bike on the street and calls the police.  What he discovers is that an Eritrean immigrant purchased the bike at the bus station not knowing that it was stolen goods, and in the kerfuffle it is revealed that the immigrant's papers have expired even though he has made a productive and wonderful life in Israel.  In another setting, this film would be a totally fair critique of immigration policies, and I think had it been set in the United States, it would have been meaningful to me.  But given how little the world sees Israel as more than its conflict with neighbors, this film piles on the "Israel bad" simplistic narrative.  It is a wholly appropriate self-critique by an Israeli filmmaker, but I fear that it is embraced by the Academy simply for its negative view of an Israeli policy.

Watch the trailer here.

Two Distant Strangers

In the most horrific version of Groundhog Day, a man tries desperately to get home to his dog after a one night stand with a gorgeous woman.  In each encounter, he is murdered by the police no matter what he does.  A tribute to those who have died from police abuse, the film reminds us that inalienable rights are not applied the same to all members of society.  I think this has an excellent chance of being the winner.

Watch the film on Netflix.

Watch the trailer here.

The Present

On the surface, this is just the story of a husband trying to make a special day for his wife for their wedding anniversary.  He wants to go shopping and takes his daughter on the outing, and this requires him to go through an Israeli checkpoint.  In no surprise from movies the Academy likes, all Israelis are universally one-note, evil, inhuman bastards, and of course this guy is just a simple husband trying to get his shopping done.  Well, I'll say it.  Screw you and your anti-Israel bullshit, Academy.  In the Middle East, nothing is this simple and your constant embrace of films that have no depth with Israeli characters is absolutely and utterly tiresome.

Watch the film on Netflix.

Watch the trailer here.

The Letter Room

A death row prison guard gets a promotion and is now running the mail room, monitoring all incoming and outgoing mail to and from the inmates.  When he reads a series of deeply emotional and potentially dangerous letters from the outside, he gets involved in a way that probably violates the rules of the prison, but honors the rules of human kindness.  Oscar Isaac gives a wonderful performance reminding us that for him, the medium is not important, he delivers his whole self even for this sweet and touching short.

Pay to watch the film here.

Watch the trailer here.

Feeling Through

My favorite of the 5 films, Feeling Through follows a young homeless man, Tereek, looking for a place to sleep for the night.  When he meets a Artie, a blind and deaf man trying to get home, he volunteers to help.  They share an important experience and when Tereek takes the focus off himself and his own serious problems and his heart opens in a totally unexpected way.  It reminds us that even at our worst moments, when we connect with other people and help those who need us, we grow and we are helped as much as they are.  I cried at the beautiful connection between these two men.

Watch the film here.