When it comes to American movies, the first thing Chinese audiences think of is big stars, big scenes, and big hollywood blockbusters. In fact, in addition to commercial blockbusters, independent films are also an important part of American cinema.
Independent films
The concept of "independent cinema" originated in Hollywood in the 1950s. At that time, Hollywood was monopolized by the "eight major film companies", aiming at maximizing profits and advocating accurate commercial operations, but it also limited the space for film creators to play. As a result, a group of filmmakers got rid of control, self-financed, and made many films with strong ideological and artistic characteristics that were completely different from the popular commercial blockbusters at that time, known as "independent films".
After more than half a century of development, the meaning of independent films has become more complex and diverse, but in general, it still pays attention to the "independent spirit" that reflects the values and formal concepts of Hollywood blockbusters. Of course, independent films are no longer limited to "small productions", chinese audiences are very familiar with Sergio Leon directed "Once Upon a Time in America", Clint Eastwood directed "Million Dollar Baby", etc., are all excellent works in independent films.
The Shanghai International Film Festival has always been committed to bringing more diverse, richer and better quality films to Chinese audiences, and independent films are of course indispensable. Since last year, the Shanghai International Film Festival has added an independent film screening unit - "Bridge". As the name suggests, this unit not only connects the Chinese film market with the international independent film market, but also builds an important bridge between Chinese audiences and independent films in the world, and provides a bridge of cultural exchange for filmmakers who have always insisted on independent production.
The upcoming 21st Shanghai International Film Festival will feature a total of 7 outstanding American independent films in the "Bridge" section.
Most of these films have already made their mark at independent film festivals around the world, gaining good quality and market reputation. Among them, in "Florida Paradise", a single mother with her daughter struggling to survive is in sharp contrast to the luxurious bustle of Disneyland next door. Also a low-level woman, the heroine of "Nancy" is involved in online "fake news" because she is dissatisfied with real life, trying to seek comfort from the illusory online world, and finally returns to the cruel reality. In addition, the young couples who are entangled in love in "True Love Forever", the elderly and depressed stars who are not willing to be forgotten in "The Decades of Falling Down", the middle-aged men who are tormented by painful memories in "Memory Reappearance", and the women who have suffered domestic violence in "The Night is Like a Tide" and "Volunteer Police", all let us see the low-level life of the American people, which is rare in commercial blockbusters.
Florida Paradise 4K
Director: Sean Baker
Writers: Sean Baker/Chris Bergzi
Starring: Brooklyn Prince / Bria Vinet / William Dafoe / Christopher Rivera
Synopsis
Mooney, a 6-year-old girl, and Harley, a single mother, live a tough life in a cheap community motel in Orlando. Harley is only in her early 20s, a typical "problem girl" in the eyes of many people, doing nothing all day and raising money by various improper means. Under her mother's free-range, Harley and her friends enjoyed a carefree "wild" childhood. Just across the wall from the dilapidated motel is the lively and dreamy Disneyland. During the summer vacation, Moone and her friends embark on a series of adventures, lighting fires in broken houses, asking tourists for money to buy ice cream...
In addition to the roles of the girl Mooney and the mother Harley, william Dafoe, the role of the motel owner in the film, also contributed wonderful acting skills. With this film, William Dafoe was nominated for Best Supporting Actor at the 75th Golden Globe Awards (2018) and the 90th Academy Awards (2018).
Nancy
Directed By: Christina Cho
Writers: Christina Cho
Starring: Andrea Respologg / Steve Bussimi / Ann Donde / John Reggie Zamo
Single woman Nancy and her mother with Parkinson's disease live a life of poverty. Dissatisfied with her life, she is convinced that she was kidnapped as a child and that her biological parents were someone else. At this time, she saw a report on the Internet that an elderly couple was looking for their daughter, so she carefully planned an Internet scam.
From the perspective of a low-level woman, "Nancy" criticizes the "fake identity" and "fake news" that are flying in the online world, and at the same time, it also cares about the helplessness of the people at the bottom in the face of reality. For this film, Korean female director Christina Cho won the Waldo Schotter Screenwriting Award at the 34th Sundance International Film Festival.
True love lives on
Director: Robert Swartzman
Writers: Will Elliott/Kirk Jonathan
Starring: Lauren Lapkus / Nicholas Rutherford / Lucy Hale
In their fourth year of engagement, the young couple is still hesitating about whether to make the next big move— marriage. Her parents celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary and were invited to Spend the Weekend with their parents in Palm Springs, when they discovered the secret of their parents' happy marriage and learned to face each other's problems.
Falling in love is easy, marriage is difficult, and this is an indisputable truth all over the world. "True Love Forever" is a very typical American love light comedy, between two young people, between children and parents, there are constant differences in jokes, there is also a warm pulse of love, but the element that can ultimately support a couple to go down, there is no doubt that it must be: true love.
The night is like a tide
Director: Jordana Spyro
Writers: Angelica Vandu/ Jordana Spiro
Starring: Dominic Fishback / Marilyn Hull / Max Kessela
On the eve of her 18th birthday, Angela, who was arrested and imprisoned for illegal possession of firearms, was released from juvenile prison. Before that, her father was also jailed for murdering her mother, and her 10-year-old sister Abby was sent to foster homes. Angela has been haunted by dreams about her mother, and she has carefully planned a trip that will most likely ruin the future of the two girls...
Director Jordana Spyro was born in 1977, she debuted as an actress, and now works more as a director and producer.
Scrawled years
Director: Adam Levukin
Writers: Adam Levorkin
Starring: Bert Reynolds / Ariel Winter / Clark Duke / Ella Cortland / Nikki Brownske
Vic, a former movie star who was a big hit, had to face up to the dilemma of reality as he stepped towards "old age and decay". He was invited to an obscure film festival to receive the Lifetime Achievement Award, only to find that the ceremony was not as brilliant as he had hoped. The young female taxi driver, who did not know the former star at all, spoke ill of him.
The male protagonist of this film, Vic, is played by the then 81-year-old veteran actor Bert Reynolds. The female driver was played by Ariel Winter, a 19-year-old American singer at the time. This combination of the old and the young has a humorous and warm spark. It allows us to see that it is certainly not easy to "rely on the old", but it is even more difficult to face the gap and achieve old and peaceful.
Memory recurrence
Director: Mark Palanski
Writers: Mark Palensky/Mike Vukadinovich
Starring: Peter Dinrage / Matt Ellis / Jordana Raj / Martin Downven / Evelyn Brochu
Professor Gordon, a scientist, was killed after inventing a machine that could record and play back the memories of others. Because Sam had received help from the professor, he went out to secretly investigate the mystery of the professor's murder. Through the memory machine, Sam finds out the cause of the professor's death, while also gaining relief by recreating his own painful memories.
The male protagonist of this film, Sam, is played by The "Little Devil" Peter Dinraki, who is very familiar to Chinese audiences. The American actor, who is only 1 meter 35 tall, supports the acting skills of the entire film. The film is a bit brain-burning, but the theme is positive and bright: everyone has painful memories that they don't want to face, but it doesn't matter, it is the memories that make us who we are today.
vigilante
Director: Sarah Deger-Nixon
Writers: Sarah Deger-Nixon
Starring: Olivia Wilde/Morgan. Spector/Kyle Kettler
Sadie had suffered severe domestic violence and later became a staunch fighter against domestic violence. Her phone number, circulated among anti-domestic violence groups in the United States, can be used to get her help by calling her phone and using her calling password, "The truck can't stop." Sadie once helped an abusive wife who forced her abusive husband to sign, transferred most of her assets to his wife's bank account, quit her job, and left the house. She warned the husband: "If you disturb them, I will kill you." ”
Actress Olivia Wilde, known for her beauty, starred in another film as a vengeful female character suffering from traumatic sequelae, and she vividly presented a life warrior role from domestic violence to saving victims of domestic violence on the big screen.