Slamdance 2022 capsule reviews : Forget Me Not, Poppy, Fury, Doggy Love

Mr. C is in the building! It's been a long time, how's everyone doing??!  I’m a little late in chiming in as the Slamdance Film Festival is nearing the last few days of its virtual runtime but you still have a chance to see some gems especially at that $10 See all - Be all inclusive pass! Buy a pass here! At the very least, you can flag & take note of some interesting films so that you can consume now or later! I caught a handful of features that I thought were worth mentioning.

Forget me not

Forget Me Not 

An infuriating look into the navigation & process of getting public education needs met for an all needs abilities child in the NYC school system. Apparently NYC is one of the most segregated school systems in the nation and that includes children with special needs. But not every parent wants to segregate their kids into a special school that is usually much further away from home & metaphorically, further away from society. Some believe it’s best to include their all needs ability child into the public education system so that they can develop & socialize in a normal setting in order to assimilate and progress like the rest. This formula will give the person the skills, support, & confidence to contribute to society. Of course, the NYC education system prefers to segregate the special needs students into a separate environment with or without the parents’ wishes. This documentary will help to enlighten the process and help parents to make the best decision for their child. Fight the power & Forget me not!

 

 

Fury

 Fury

I very much liked this verite styled look into the life of an aspiring amateur MMA fighter in Poland and her internal struggles of finding confidence & pride in herself without attaching it to a meaningless relationship that makes her feel insecure. I loved the grey, doom & gloom look of the background/settings, vibes, & just overall emotions of the film. I’m not sure if it was the small town feels of this little village in Poland or if it was the technical aspects of the shooting of the film. It’s probably a combination of both. It left me wanting to know more of how she ended up. 

 

Poppy

 

 

 

 

 

Poppy

Loved the sentiment that this film presented as Poppy, a gifted person living in New Zealand follows her passion of becoming a car mechanic in a family owned garage while also finding love in all the right places! Of course it’s not all fun n games as Poppy deals with naysayers, haters, & an overprotective brother with his own issues. It's a feel good story and also a reminder to not judge a book by its cover. 

Doggy Love

Doggy love 

An all too realistic, nitty gritty look at a couple that are passionate about saving stray dogs in their makeshift shelter in Iran when the odds are stacked up against them. Religion, the community, & the government  don’t look at dogs in such an endearing way. In contrast, the couple also has a complicated relationship as the only thing that seemingly keeps them together is the love for dogs. The film parallels the struggle for women in society and to what an uphill battle that the dogs are going through. Love the message.