Nevada City Film Fest shows short form cinema at its best

Here are quick reviews of only three examples - three very different creations - of why the Nevada City Film Festival has matured into a substantive film festival. None of the 30 films show twice. This unique opportunity to see short-form cinema, as well as to interact with filmmakers who will be present, takes place the weekend of Oct. 7 through Oct. 9, beginning at 7:30 p.m. each night (details in next week's Prospector).

'Smart Card'

Have you been in a car with one of those GPS map systems? Have you used an automated check out station at a supermarket? "Smart Card," set in the not-too-distant future, begins with the calm of super-automated convenience. However, the lead character's Smart Card is stolen. Mounting frenzy returns to the kind of disturbing calm that only a mega-corporation could possibly construct. This sharp film hands you an ending that jolts you with enough absurdity to keep you from worrying about such eventualities. Nah, real life couldn't be headed there, could it? (Screened Oct. 7, 7:35 p.m.)

'Modus Vivendi'

"Modus Vivendi" means "a way of life." Viewing this short film, it probably helps to lay meaning aside. This is a peaked human whirl of scenarios. This arty exercise is 90 percent sensuous visual fancy and 10 percent calming transcendence. This is the kind of compact, bold expression that would probably get lost or fail or never get tried in feature-length film. (Screened Oct. 8, 7:35 p.m.)

'Fluffy'

What do you do to fill your day? In "Fluffy," a young woman doesn't seem to do anything much except live by a quirky personal concept of giving a little something and getting a little something, knowing that her humble, quirky touch adds something to the series of trades that sketch her day. That's what the movie "Fluffy" is: a quirky, personal short film that gives a little something and seems to know that a humble, quirky touch adds something to the possibilities of movie-going and life. (Screened Oct. 9, 7:35 p.m.)



<I> Chuck Jaffee lives in Nevada City. Find links to his other articles for The Union at www.startlets.com.<;/I>