Cracker Bag

I saw this short film prior before viewing Disney's Holes. I thought I was in the wrong cinema when Cracker Bag showed up. But I stayed through the entire length of this piece.

Eddie is young bespectacled girl growing up in Australia in 1980. On the 4th of November she has a special day planned out called Cracker day. She saved money to buy numerous firecrackers just for this occasion. Her mother made a special Cracker Bag (hence the title) for her just to carry the crackers. Simple as this film may be, it had that nostalgia feel to it as I recall wondrous memories of my childhood and yes, those colourful firecrackers.

A film that lights up my heart with fireworks.

It was only when I saw Napoleon Dynamite that I remembered seeing Cracker Bag. Just beautiful sentiment and yet never stooping to being soppy. There is some terrific cinematography and the lead girl is quite brilliant. It captures more than the nostalgia of the time. It has a real heart to it. It is the Achilles wound of childhood that is exquisite and painful. A simple story is always effective when done well. This Glendyn Ivin has a big future and I for one, am looking out for his next project. The follow up is always the most difficut thing. It's like the second album blues for most people.

I just hope his next film is not something lame like a shark film. Cheers to all. Enjoy your cinema.

I was treated to a viewing of Cracker Bag last night before a preview screening of Disney's Holes. I don't know who decided to show it but I'm so very glad they did. Cracker Bag is an absolute gem, a snapshot of Australia in the early 80s as seen through a child's eye. The "conversations" between Eddie and her brother were hilarious and, as with the rest of the film, so true to life. Each shot brought a great sense of nostalgia as it reminded me of my own childhood (being the same age as the director probably helps a little) and the audio multiplied the feeling. I only hope I get to see Cracker Bag again some day.

Alright this was quite a sensitive little number but I can't help thinking I've seen it before. Reminds me of another VCA film I saw at Poitier called "THE OTHER DAYS OF RUBY RAE" Also had specks of "Welcome to the Dollhouse" and "Ratcatcher" and Lynne Ramsay in it's execution. Which is not to say that they're not tasteful references...just that they feel very modern and very fashionable...which makes me feel like this is closer to advertising (as an approach in style and story) than the work of an original and authentic auteur to come.

The cinematography is just...too perfect for my liking. Too coral filter (or charcoal) for my liking...too archly framed 12mm. Therefore the entire impression left me a little distant -- beware of art that proclaims itself too readily! The french (they are a conservative bunch) seemed to buy it as did the jury however... but Cannes short film selection is notoriously conservative compared to it's feature selection although I wonder what's been happening in the last few years.

Not only a recent first-time father but now a first-time winner at Cannes too.

Sensitive little short from director Glendyn Ivin from Brunswick in Melbourne, Australia. The simplistic tale of a young girl who saves her pocket money to build up her collection of fireworks. For a film of just fifteen minutes running time, Ivin has painted a credible and touching little portrayal of youthful deliberation. The judges at Cannes 2003, obviously felt the same way, awarding CRACKER BAG the Palme d'Or for Best Short Film.