Cicadas

Went to this film with some reservations thinking it was a low budget first time effort, but was surprised at how professional and well-made it is. The payoff for every film is the ending and whether or not it moves me emotionally, and by the time I left the theater I was moved, almost to tears. The film is somewhat like "To Kill a Mockingbird" or "What's Eating Gilbert Grape?" only original in it's own right. The director, Kat Candler, should be commended for her delicate, reserved treatment. Filmed on location in a house that looks just like the house from "Texas Chainsaw Massacre" only without the meat hooks, it was shot on DV and had it's premier at the Austin Film Festival 2000 were it played to packed audiences. Also noteworthy is the camera work of Jim Eastburn who has a great sense of composition. Hopefully we will see more work from these talented filmmakers in the near future.

I saw this movie tonight at the Austin Film Festival and was quite impressed by it. It's a movie about growing up and relationships with family and friends. It's a low-budget film, but very well-done, and the acting is good. I particularly liked the fact that it was a coming-of-age story from a girl's perspective.

Cicadas is an awesome coming-of-age movie by a marvelous young director with a small budget that is sure to be looked back at years from now as the first sign of her brilliance. It centers around three kids who are basically left to fend for themselves as the parents have to be on the road making their livings -- a common problem in modern-day America. The young cast of major characters all do a wonderful job, especially Bryan Chafin as Simon and Lindsay Broockman as his older sister. Kat Candler directed, produced, and wrote this touching, at times painful movie, and should not be missed!

I saw Cicadas at the Austin Film Festival last night. Kat Candler joins the growing number of independent filmmakers who are turning to digital filmmaking as a method of bringing their vision to life. Overall, the film was impressive in many ways. Candler shows that she definitely knows what do do behind the camera. Her composition and eye for detail were right on the money. Still, I felt that the story treaded on already worn ground. The all too familiar "coming of age in a small town" theme is something that we've seen time and time again, especially in small Texas communities. ("The Last Picture Show," and "Dancer, Texas.") Chandler takes a somewhat fresh perspective, setting the story from a a 16 year old girl's point of view (I don't know the actresses name, but she was impressive), but the overall effect is the same. Still, given the budget and the fact that this is the director's and many of the actor's first efforts, this film is worthwhile for seeing just as an example of the potential for digital filmmaking, especially on low budgets. The question should be raised though, what role does the digital filmmaker have in the cinematic world right now? I'm still waiting to see the film that really puts digital filmmaking on the scene. I'm hoping we don't have to wait for Lucas to do it for us in 2002, I'd much rather see a smaller, more powerful film really break the bounds and show the world the medium's true potential. Whatever it is, it's got to be something fresh, something we haven't seen before - no easy task in a business where so many things have been tried and recycled over and over again. As for Cicadas - I think it's a good stepping stone for Candler, and I hope that someone sees this film and gives her more work.

Cicadas, a film shot by an obviously talented, earnest and dedicated crew, really hit home for me. They clearly got the most out of their budget and their actors. Growth, 1st love, alienation, joy, the search for meaning in a sometimes confusing teen world - it's all there and more. I loved it, and look for big things to come from Director Candler, Producer Bate, et al.