Validação

I know. It's MY LIFE that's real, not movies. Movies are just a shadow on the wall, and you can hit STOP any time you feel like it. But I'd somehow managed to befriend Kurt Kuenne after being wowed by his "Shuffle," and had to see the rest of his resume. Unfortunately (for ME, since I've been an emotional wreck for decades), next up was "Dear Zachary," BRILLIANT but WAY too disturbing for the likes of moi. That was a month ago, and I haven't slept right since. Kurt actually apologized. But HERE was the best of all possible apologies..."Validation" was, simply, the most life-affirming 16 minutes of celluloid I've ever encountered (and please believe me - the celluloid I've encountered could reach to Pluto from here). I won't relate its story - a 2-line synopsis can't do it justice - but I do feel the need to convey that this is 16 minutes with the power to HEAL. And you'll laugh while healing. And I think maybe my poor battered subconscious can be talked into letting go of that psychotic witch from 'Zachary' that had sunk her claws in DEEP. Thank you, Kurt. This slate is CLEAN.

I had the pleasure of seeing this gem at the Phoenix Film Festival and I have to say that there are probably less then 1% of all short films made have the ability to make the audience well up with tears of happiness. That is precisely what this film did to me. Not only that. Whenever I tell someone about it I get the sense of welling up again just from re-telling it to them.

T.J. Thyne is perfectly cast as Hugh Newman, the uber-naive parking booth guy who works at the end of a darkly lit hallway and validates customers parking tickets while validating their lives at the same time. Just like any protagonist in a movie, he hits his roadblock and loses his mojo for a while but soon finds himself again, after he finds life taking him in another direction and gets back on the trail of making people's lives better. He finds out in the end that the good deeds had been doing for people in the past, that he thought were not changing anything or anybody, actually changed the lives of even the most hardened hearts and in turn find him the complete happiness that he had been searching for the whole time.

Kurt Kuenne did an AMAZING job with this film, period. From the finger-snappy acapella soundtrack to the directing, editing and cinematography; all of it is perfectly fit into this beautiful story. I only wish I could buy this movie on DVD. I've told so many people about it and wish I could show them! Hopefully soon!

I've lost count of how many times I've been grateful for YouTube. Today a friend sent me the link to this short and within seconds I knew it was special.

Validation is truly a gem.

There are so many superlatives I could use about Kurt Kuenne's short. The acting, direction, writing, etc., are all superb. But what really stands out is the movie's heart and simplicity. The story (a parable, really) is subtle, uplifting, inspirational--it even surprised me. And after 50+ years of movie watching, I don't surprise easily. This is not your typical Hollywood movie. It has a French feel to it; in fact, it reminded me a bit of Amelie. It is uniquely American, though. I can't wait to see more of Kuenne's work.

It's rare that I get a link I can forward to everyone on my email list. You'll see what I mean. Don't miss this one--and pass it along!

(It's an hour since I saw it and I'm still smiling!)

A simple film who could be defined as motivational. in fact, it is more. a pledge for small gestures. delicate /brave words. about the change using simple tools. about honesty. and about the importance of the other. nothing complicated. but usefull. for the message. for the tears of the end. for the basic lesson about ordinary things - briks of every day reality. a nice film. and that is all.

I can't add to the two superb previous comments about this short film.

I just watched it again, and yes, tears spilled from my eyes, tears of complete overwhelming appreciation for this moral fable, this poem to the positive in people, and to love.

I teach preschool age children with severe special needs, and seeing this the first time had me by the heart, weeping profound tears of gratitude. It helped me realize that a large part of what I do, and have always loved to do for my kids and their family's is to simply appreciate the greatness it takes to go through their lives, made difficult from having unexpected horrors happen to their little children. To put that into words sincerely spoken is very touching and does indeed change people for the best.

I just forwarded the Flixxy link to another very large group of friends who also work in special education.

Every superlative applies to the wonderful magic of this film.