2006 Academy Award Live Action Short Films

A fine collection of the 2006 Academy Award Nominated Live Action and Animated Short Films.

Live Action Films:

West Bank Story
This Oscar winner is a marvelous social satire and a parody of the classic West Side Story. David (Ben Newmark), a Jew, and Fatima (Noureen DeWulf), an Arab, fall into forbidden love and neighboring gangs, the employees of Kosher King and Hummus Hut, are determined to break it up. Directed by Ari Sandel. Made in the USA; run time 21 minutes.

The Saviour
Malcolm (Thom Campbell), a door-to-door evangelist, has a sexual relationship with Carmel (Susan Prior) and comes face-to-face with her husband (Rhys Muldoon) when she wants to break it off. Written and directed by Peter Templeman. Made in Australia; run time 17 minutes.

Helmer & Søn
An elderly man (Per Pallesen) locks himself in a closet at the nursing home and his son Jess (Steen Stig Lommer), who now runs the family business, is summoned to persuade him out. Jess' sister Vibeke (Ditte Hansen) is also called and enters into a chatty conversation through the closet door with their father. Directed by Søren Pilmark. Made in Denmark; run time 13 minutes.

Binta and the Great Idea
Set in Senegal, young Binta (Zeynabou Diallo) tells of her culture and recounts how her cousin Soda (Aminata Sane) is denied an education because her father demands that she stay at home to work instead. Binta helps her own father (Agnile Sambou) to make a significant change in their country. Written and directed by Javier Fesser. Made in Spain; run time 30 minutes.

Éramos Pocos
(One Too Many)
Joaquín (Mariví Bilbao) has suddenly been abandoned by his wife leaving him and his teenage son Fernando (Ramón Barea) to fend for themselves. Even though they've not seen her in a long time, Joaquín and Fernando lure Lourdes (Alejandro Tejerías), the mother-in-law/grandmother, to their home. Lourdes soon realizes that she's been brought their to be their housemaid. Despite their slovenly ways, Lourdes stays on -- but why? Written and directed by Borja Cobeaga. Made in Spain; run time 16 minutes.

My personal rating: B+