Rodrigo_Amaro

We've all been there or at least very close to situations as depicted in this lovely short: finding that special someone to connect after a first view and/or some inviting glances, and then the hard choice of both parts of who's gonna make the first move. Straight, gay, bi, you've been there at least once.

In "La Prima Volta" ("The First Time") we follow two strangers at a park, the shy book reader (Giulio Rubinelli) and the seductive looking type (Eugenio Franceschini), both who end up spotting each other after a fighting couple, previously distracting both, moves away. Boldness, shyness, interest, pretend not interest, it's all part of the game and the real moment of action is the hardest part. You're probably know where this is going, but not completely.

It's a very exciting and romantic short, amazingly acted by the duo of actors. You feel all kinds of emotions with the characters and expect all the best outcome for both. And the great thing about the story is the little use of dialogue, so even if you don't speak Italian you can get follow everything without difficulty. The anxious longing of it all is amazing, as typical with such stories but I didn't agree with a certain outcome aspect. In fiction, it's kind of disappointing and a little unreasonable; but in reality, if happening, it's simply dumb. When two people want the same thing, if one has some difficulty the other part could and should help out - unless it was just a tease, trying some power of seduction or the need wasn't too strong (either way, a bummer). But it was nice to watch and worth thinking about. 8/10.

The weight of adolescence years comes as a heavy burden that feels bigger to some, a little light to others. To young Marty (Andras Jones) that phase is an unbereable raw deal due to a condition he faces ever since childhood and will probably never end as he suffers from a skin disease known as port-wine stain, a discoloration of the human skin that leaves a series of purple-reddish marks on the body. In between treatments that go nowhere, he keeps on hiding his body and avoids showering at the private school he attends or whenever he tries to become intimate with girls. It all changes when he discovers "The Prom" and a special young girl who works there.

That place is a porn-shop with booth where girls make their striptease acts, and the one who got his attention was Lana (Jennifer Jason Leigh), and since there's the chance of conversation he becomes fascinated with her, slightly at ease to the point slowly revealing himself and reaching a nice form of human contact - as loneliness and anxiety are a constant with Marty. Yet the challenge remains: if getting closer to her, outside of her work, will he ever feel comfortable with a more intimate relationship or more pain and anxiety will be added to the situation?

The thing I liked the most was that the short prolongued a lot about Marty's situation and the extension of his condition, and by the time it showed us it felt (for a little while) that it wasn't so bad as it feels like a series of unconventional tattoos. But the more we see through the young man's perspective we understand the reasoning for a high level of insecurity, shame and why this particular disease affects him. Right at a point where he wants to experience sex and intimacy, and the perception of having a perfect body are a constant on films, TV, magazines and real people one observes in different situations.

With Lana, there's plenty of awkward moments between both until things slowly work alright. While a very unconventional scenario (only in the movies), it works on the level of building confidence when there's little or none, making some effort towards change and growth, and viewers can use to aspects to be changed in their lives despite whatever problem they face - not just a health/physical condition as shown, it works as a metaphor for whatever it's blocking one from connecting with a special person. It's like that known quote 'those who care don't matter and those who matter don't care'.

It's a fine drama, greatly well acted (the late J. T. Walsh has a cameo playing the school dean, a rare opportunity to see him outside of villainesque characters, but always a figure of authority) and a little moving. It gets a little lost due to some intrusive flashbacks showing Marty's childhood past and some of the treatments he goes under, as it tries evoke a sense of mystery that wasn't needed. It's the kind of device that with dialogues would work better.

Still, a very interesting piece. 8/10.

The chances of me seeing a country music video would be extremely rare due for being a genre far from my taste, though are some nice songs. This one got my attention for being listed in the section "Other works" on the profile page of the late Gailard Sartain (1943-2025). A veteran character with a great on screen presence in films like "Mississippi Burning", "Guilty by Suspicion" and many others, playing dark, serious and humored characters, he always managed to make the best with each role - he was hilarious in "Getting Even with Dad". In this music video for country singer Mel McDaniel he's allowed to play a funny character, a defendant on a divorce hearing who calls the singer and his band to testify for him - but not before trying to run away from everything as the witness got a little late.

The given scenario was fun to watch, and the bonus end up being McDonald's song and the performance, as he invites the court attendees to stand up and clap when required, and even the judge was enthusiastic with the act. It's a simple but quite catchy song that even non fans of the genre can enjoy.

8/10.