Pâté

Brilliant! Pate's super lush/rich cinematography is absolutely stunning. This cinematography is complimented equally with a post-apocalyptic story line and an excellent performance by all that will make you want to go back for seconds. Agnieszka Wojtowicz-Vosloo is a name I look forward to hearing from again.

"Pate" is one of those all-too-rare short films that creates a startling and unique world onto itself. It doesn't try to mimic other films, or make futile gestures to imitate formuliac Hollywood plots and narrative structures. Instead, the post-apocalyptic spirit of Agnieszka's short film is closer to playwrights Eugene Ionosco and Samuel Beckett's theatre of the absurd and the dystopian wastelands envisioned by such writers William S. Burroughs and J.G. Ballard than the cinema's usual science fiction and doomsday dramas.

Although the storyline unfolding throughout this beautifully designed piece is doused in a nightmarish glow, it isn't without humor. The filmmaker creates images that reside in the gap between dark comedy and garish tragedy that could only be born out of the 20th century and its many discontents.

I can honestly say that "Pate" is one of the more unique short films that I have seen. As a fellow artist, it is inspiring to see a kindred spirit who delights in running against the grain of our collective expectations, in order to find something fresh, striking and new. In "Pate," art, surprises, dreams and nightmares find a curious, new place to call home. And adventurous viewers are invited to come inside for a close and personal tour. Enjoy. ---- Neil Kendricks

I caught this film at Raindance. It's a remarkable piece of work, full of life and poetry. It reminded me of Fellini and Greenaway in it's visual language and vivid imagery.

Pate was head and shoulders above the other films at Raindance, and more memorable than most films coming out of mainstream cinema. I only wish Hollywood would make films as rich as Pate, instead of the bland, formulaic 'blockbusters' they continual churn out. We need more imaginative and provocative films like Pate. I'm looking forward to seeing the director's first feature.

I can't get over how beautiful this film is. I saw it at the LA Shorts Festival last week, and after sitting through the usual grim, little stories, this film exploded off the screen with colors and visuals and set design that just blew you away. But the film's more than a visual feast (and you need to see the film to understand how appropriate the word "feast" is!), it's also an intelligent look at relationships, between mothers and daughters, and between men and women. As a woman I found the allegory particularly strong, and the conclusion a shocking reminder of the constant battle for dominance. I warn you, there's some shocking scenes, and I applaud the director for taking on issues and images that too many other directors shy away from (or use for simply suferficial crasseffect). A totally original film that I know will be classic.

(PS. I checked out the LAShorts Fest web site later and found that it didn't win, which is a sad reflection on the jury. They went for a little safe film that sums up the festival really).

This film has more user comments than most short films (more than most feature films!). And it's not surprising. When I saw this film a couple of months ago in LA it provoked more discussion than any film I've seen in a long time. Love it or hate it, you can't ignore the power and sheer force of the director's vision. Darker than even Jeunet and Gilliam (obvious influences), Pate challenges like few films do these days.

I also found it darkly humorous, something that most of the audience seemed to miss (or am I just sick?). But most of all, it is the artistry of this film that takes your breath away. Colors that flood your brain and a richness that overwhelms your senses. A work of pure beauty.