THE most positive thing that can be said about the short films in the ACCBank 11th Dublin Film Festival's two Cinema Showcase programmes is that the generally low standard meant that any reasonably accomplished piece of work was thrown into relief and given an added lustre. The few good films stood out by a mile.
The shorts in Programme One of the Showcase were not helped by being in video format, with poor light and sound quality, but, presentation flaws apart, they were generally not of sufficiently professional standard to be screened publicly. Three of these films were shown at last year's festival, including Daragh Pounch's somewhat overpraised Pothole Terror; of the rest, Michael O'Kane's Hanoi to Harold's Cross, while over ambitious, over extended and showing all the signs of its low production costs, has the solidly informative quality of an educational video, about life in Vietnam. Cecilia's Day Off set in the London Irish community, is given a welcome light touch by Sune Maroni.
Out Of The Blue, a well meaning attempt to explore the theme of young women feeling sexually threatened by men, is overwrought and heavy handed - not quite as heavy handed as Daragh McCarthy's Sucker, about a female hitch hiker from Hell. Bottom of the pile had to be Tree Life, by Philippe Carriere, which should have remained a private joke.
Trees popped up again in Programme Two of the Showcase, this time in a short documentary called Talking Trees, a celebration of trees by Lionel Mill which draws attention to the destruction of native woods in Northern Ireland. This director also made Protect Me, an interesting portrait, commissioned for Channel 4's Battered Britain series, of a performance artist who mutilates his body to explore aspects of violence and aggression. Writing in blood on his body, wrapping himself in bandages soaked in his own blood, being hit across the head, his "performances" are an uncomfortable, irritating, blend of narcissism and masochism.
While Francis Delaney's Police Procedure was somewhat melodramatic, it is well scripted, directed and edited, sustaining tension and suspense, as a police inspector vents his jealousy and paranoia about his wife on the suspect criminal he is detaining for questioning. With great flair and energy, Kieron Walsh's Out Of The Deep Pan follows the fortunes of a libidinous couple, played by Conleth Hill and Maria Connolly, who take desperate measures to boost the sales of their home made pizzas. With an accomplished sense of timing and humour, this confirms the promise shown in Walsh's earlier short films, Bossanova Blues and Shooting Stars.
