Le Chase

I saw this at the 2006 Palm Springs International Festival of Short Films and this is a really fun film. This American comedy pays homage to the French New Wave films of the late 50's and early 60's of such filmmakers as Jean-Luc Godard and Francois Truffant and the Nouvelle Vague films before that of such filmmakers as Jaques Rivette. This is set probably sometime in the 1950's in some unnamed seaport cobblestoned city as a man called Hero meets up with a menacing street gang of punks called Le Punks and an understanding street hooker named Mary Long who mediates a solution. The sub plot is filled with sexual tension as Hero and Francie, the lone female member of the Le Punks develop a mutual interest. Actor Charlie Shanian makes his directorial and writing debut as well as produces and stars as Hero. Mary Puray is Francie. Mary Birdsong is Mary Long. Thomas Bolster is Johnny and Ilan Lieman is Harold. Scott Teems co-directs, Cooper Dunn photographs and television composer Andrew M. Chuckerman turns in a fine musical score. I would give this a 9.0 out of 10.