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Written and directed by Kristyan Mann, the 2016 short 'l'histoire des larmes de la princess' is a wonderful piece of art that bursts out of its shell soaring. A fitting homage to the era of black and white silent cinema, this film manages to pack a range of emotions in its short runtime and will leave you teary eyed by the time it ends. Poignant and direct, this is a classic tale of good vanquishing evil despite towering odds.

Kristyan Mann's fantasy tale finds a nefarious individual stealing a baby from a royal family, believing its tears to have special powers. Keeping the princess as an eternal source of tears to heal his physical deformations, the villain will soon set off a chain of events that will herald his demise. This is a tale that takes us into unexpected directions, a tale of loss and love set amidst the backdrop of an unspeakable act of cruelty.

Approaching this fantasy tale in an unconventional way, Kristyan Mann manages to create a story that will resonate with your heart. Fusing the earnestness of silent films with a bit of Disney magic, Mann creates a powerful tale of a caged magical bird finally attaining her freedom. Utilizing the fantasy genre trope of a fair maiden's tears bringing the departed love back to life, the Princess (Kerry Sirrell) manages to turn her life around, finally escaping the clutches of the evil man in the process, who has been using him as a source of magical tears.

Not every actor can seamlessly transition to silent films but here, the filmmaker has managed to collect a cast that delivers its absolute best. From the fairy at the start to the villain, each individual brings his or her very best to the table. It was hard to pick who took the cake in the acting department but I think it was Joe Staton who impressed me the most. Playing the earnest young man who tries to stop the villian from beating the princess but is killed in the process, Staton brings a youthful earnestness to the role. He is both stoic and resolute, arriving at a critical juncture of the story and setting off a chain of events that will rescue the princess.

The title cards are both a nice callback to the classics and they also work seamlessly to provide exposition to an audience who might need some context in specific scenes. The peppy music underneath it all manages to work its magic in its own way as well. It is these audiovisual cues that elevate the film to another level, keeping audiences engrossed in the story unfolding onscreen.

Thus, 'l'histoire des larmes de la princess' is a wonderful film anchored by expressive performances and a gripping central story. Writer and director Kristyan Mann manages to truly capture a bit of magic here and the 10 minute short will leave you floored by the time it ends.

I loved every second of the film and will give it four stars out of five.

I did not know what to expect when I picked up 'Appalachian Dog'; the 2025 period drama from Colin Henning. Maybe I liked its poster or maybe its title gave me a sense of wonder. What began as a slow descent into an exploration of love and connection transformed into something else entirely by the time the credits rolled. I took some time to process what I had seen and then it hit me, what I had seen was beautiful.

There is so much to appreciate in this film and yet, I will not be able to do it justice (you will have to see the film for yourself, dear viewer). From the characters to their subtle nuances, Henning knows to craft a story. This is a film that explores the volatile and fiery links between relationships and desires and how the two lead to unintended consequences. Set in isolation, the story is a basket case of how specific circumstances affect complex human lives.

Colin Henning both writes and directs this feature and I had no idea this was his first foray into directing until I went on the internet later. From the narrative heft to perfectly paced editing, Henning directs the story like a maestro. He knows when to push the story in first gear and when to hold back, allowing the audience to truly take in the emotional beats.

The acting is fantastic as each actor manages to infuse their character with the authenticity needed. In the technical realm, the film manages to soar above and beyond. The cinematography is stunning; with Henning making sure to use both lighting and colors to add another layer to the story. The editing is great as well, making the film a joy to sit through.

Deftly combining humor and tension, Appalachian Dog manages to deeply explore the nuance of relationships and desire and how these two work both in tandem and in conflict with one another. This film is a triumph and it managed to move me, impress me and give me a deep sense of wonder as to how we don't truly appreciate the complexities of human relationships. I loved every second of Appalachian Dog and I cannot recommend this film enough.

Written by Clemy Clarke, Farrell Huntley and Johan Ingler and directed by Clemy Clarke, 'Hi How Are You?' is a refreshing tale of romance set under the backdrop of a world ending event. Heloise Giraud as Lou and Siavash Karampour as Mani are perfect as long distance friends who want to give in to their feelings as a masive asteroid hurtles towards the planet.

Blending drama and romance and throwing some science fiction into the mix, Clarke manages to create a story that will not only tug at your heartstrings but also make you fall in love with the characters themselves. What begins as an innocuous phone call soon turns into something else as Lou and Mani find connection in isolation as the world reels from an existential threat.

The narrative pacing is on point and Clarke manages to make the whole thing mesmerizing. Equally impressive is the acting; both Heloise Giraud and Siavash Karampour manage to be highly impressive and the rest of the cast is fantastic as well.

What makes the entire experience even better is that this film was shot entirely remotely using an iPhone. In addition, the shooting took place across eight different countries. Imagine the sheer logistical issues to make this a reality as the final product is damn well near perfect.

Therefore, Clemy Clark's 'Hi How Are You?' is a fantastic little romance drama, one that reinvigorates and inspires you. The acting is fantastic, the premise great and how the film manages to visualize connection in isolation is a sight to behold. I loved the film and I would recommend it to anyone. Five out of five stars from me.