FTV Blog 9: Jerrycan

Jerrycan was my favourite of the three short films we watched. Clearer story, surface level interactions--bully picking fights, aggressive dialogue. The film was more up front (than Gasman or Crackerbag). Fascinated by boys that age. The drama more colourful here. More instantly entertaining, you could just sit there and watch it.

(Perhaps as somebody not too far from that--boys, of that age, only 5 or so years younger) I enjoyed learning the dynamics within this group between these boys--the obnoxious leader who rules with a 'fuck you' attitude. He is so clear-cut it's a pleasure to watch. I've not been directly subjected to that sort of character before in real life but, like anyone else, I've been through stages of insecurity growing up where you struggle to find a balance between peer pressure, strength of character/identity, and social acceptance. The ages 13 or 14 are notorious in boys for brining out the worst. This film divulged that whole social world as well as telling its story clearly and concisely.

Jerrycan looked good, yeah, and again it was shot on real film. I'm convinced that that alone raises the grade of any movie. The three shorts we saw all had high production values--not necessarily high budget but high standard of production, detail...

You can praise all you like the quiet, beautiful pictures and they're fine but at the end of the day I enjoy watching Jerrycan far more.