3 Shotgun Reviews from the Cleveland Film Festival

Thanks again to everyone who came out for akronlife's sponsored film "If I Want to Whistle, I Whistle." It was a great turnout for all of the showings and helped put Akron solidly on the film map.

The highlights of the festival thus far:

Hedgehog: A solidly executed film on all fronts (even the back). I was taken back by the young actress who performed a solid grownup-kid with aspirations of calculated suicide. I know what you're thinking: "That's the most morbid thing I've ever heard." And you're right. But as you might expect, it's a drama that verges on the brink of a dark comedy. Story lines intricately woven to make a whole masterpiece. I'm guessing this will hit the mainstream with a wide-release in theaters ... and probably be in the running for festival honors. A film that was a pleasure to watch.

This film gets a solid "A"

Togetherness Supreme: A fictional narrative based on the true events of an unsuspecting artist living in a shanty town in Nigeria during the 2007 elections. Political aspirations, political manipulation, violence, shattered lives, dreams of a changed country and the hope of a better humanity. The film is a well-produced, well-thought piece with the excellence of execution.

This film gets a "B"

The Human Resources Manager: A great take on the hero's narrative, it follows a man trying to rectify a corporate disaster who finds himself in an unfolding saga of what it means to grieve. The characters all deal with the losses they've amassed: people, time, money and most importantly, the loss of self. Together they deliver the body of a forgotten woman a thousand kilometers to rest in her hometown, meeting with setbacks that smack of the trials of Odysseus on his own return to a distant place somewhat remembered and people somewhat changed. This film was a last-second choice, but a great addendum to my film list.

This film gets a "B+"

Check back for more tomorrow. I saw 5 films today and am riddled with exhaustion ... in a pleasant and comforting way.