I am new to this IMDb. Since I saw this "little film" through a private online screening, I think it deserves my 2 cents:
The movie title is interesting. It got me thinking: I wonder if "Wonderland's Alice" gets in some kind of trouble like John Milton's Samson Agonistes. Well, let's see
Alice Agonistes opens with a house-warming party and everything seems normal until the nightmare comes
Ron is an unexpected visitor. He tells the story about his uncle, the Vietnam veteran who suffered from the war-trauma and turned to be a Christian for redemption. To me this backdrop story not only provides the depth of what this movie talks about --- death and peace, but also it's the way to establish Ron's character as a good story teller--- his story is rather convincing to Alice as well as to the audience.
The connection between Alice and the stranger Ron is the Cross, for which Alice inherited from the old man when he sold the house. And because of this Cross, Ron is allowed to stay over. In that night, Ron tells another story that reveals he is a fugitive on the run
Interesting enough, the film is not about crime and investigation, or good defeats evil; it is about human's guilt complex that is possibly rooted when you were young.
Unlike usual small films, Alice Agonistes is a challenge and even a rebellion to the dogma. It uses multiple layers (flashbacks) to tell the story, which you don't normally see in short forms. But it fascinates me when the story unfolds like peeling an onion.
Perhaps I am an old-bone and still living in the era of Japanese cult movie "Rushomon" (1950) and French avant-garde Oscar short "An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge (1962). For those cliché I have missed for decades and now I am glad I finally found them in this little film called "Alice Agonistes".
For technical aspects, I think the cinematography, lighting and editing are done well (except few moving shots that seem out of focus annoying me a little; but overall, it's good). I particularly love the montage at the end. Besides, I think the performers are stunning, specially the leads.
If I would be picky, I would say the quality of sound mixing is lower than my expectation. There are a couple of scenes having higher noise level than usual. But I understand the small project like this normally has a thrift budget and it can never compete with big screen films. So for this sake, I am willing to share my forgiveness.
My bottom line: I give it 9 out of 10 and highly recommend this film.
By the way, when you watch the film, pay little attention on the objects like the rope, the folder, etc.. I think you will know what I am talking about.
