Methuselah

I was honored to be invited by director, writer Nathan Sellers to watch the festival screener of his most recent film Methuselah. This short film - a little over four minutes long - is an amazing accomplishment. It is an experimental documentary, an art piece and a poem that feels very personal; in fact, I learned from the director himself that the film is based on "a haunting childhood memory". Methuselah is not easy to watch, it is painful at times, but it grabs you because it is breathtakingly beautiful and authentic. This short film deals with the ugly side of human nature and Sellers explores that dark side from a unique perspective-that of trees. By doing so he manages with sensitivity and courage to bring our humanity back to the forefront. Because of its authenticity it grabs us at the core, reminding us to never forget and to always strive for betterment of our selves. It masterfully combines the personal with the universal which is what art is all about. I especially loved the "clicking" sound of moving presentation slides in the background that, like a mantra, accompanies the imagery of the trees, the allegory of the trees - if trees could only talk...