• Child's Play

    Oct 16, 03:48 PM by administrator

    Program 3: Child’s Play

    Fri. Nov. 7th, 7:00 PM

    When faced with harsh reality and brutality, children often adapt better than their grown up advisories. Innocence trumps experience in these films in which naiveté leads to a hope only a child can create. In SANTA MESA, a brave 12 year old boy must adjust to living in an unknown homeland and connects others in the process. A young son protects himself and his mother with his imagination in IN CONTROL.

    Presented by Shaw Multicultural Channel

    Santa Mesa



    Director/Writer: Ron Morales | Producers: Louise Lovegrove, Karin Chien
    Narrative | DigiBeta | Colour | 2007 | 82 minutes | USA

    SANTA MESA is a story that portrays the courage of a young boy who is forced to come to terms with the death of his mother. At 12 years old, Hector must move to Manila to live with his grandmother Lita, a woman whom he has never met.

    Shortly after arriving, Hector meets Sel, a neighborhood teenage girl, and Miguel, along with Miguel’s Barkada (street gang). Hector longing to find a connection to his new environment joins this group of petty hustlers in the hopes of getting closer to Sel, until one night Hector’s initiation takes a wrong turn.

    Hector’s clumsy actions get him caught while breaking into the home of Jose, a 59-year-old former photographer. Later, Hector finds himself having to work for Jose in order to compensate for his actions but he does not tell his friends and his grandmother about this. And haunted by memories of his mother, Hector photographs a woman named Rosa until their seemingly disconnected lives collide.

    SANTA MESA is a warm tale about family values, love and friendship. It tackles life’s biggest challenge – growing up.

    Previous Screenings: Special Jury Prize: San Francisco Int’l Asian American Film Festival, LA Asian Pacific Film Festival, DC Asian Pacific Film Festival, Singapore Int’l Film Festival, Silk Screen Asian American Film Festival Pittsburgh, 31st Asian American Film Festival, San Diego Asian Film Festival, Cinema Rome Film Festival, Chicago Asian American Showcase, Shanghai Int’l Film Festival, Dallas Asian Film Festival, Hawaii Int’l Film Festival

    Canadian Premiere

    preceded by:

    In Control



    Director/Writer/Producer: Ana de Lara
    Narrative | Beta SP | Colour | 2008 | 5 minutes | Canada

    An imaginative young boy resorts to his remote control to cope with the painful experience of domestic violence.

    Previous Screenings: Best
    Children’s Film Award at CommFest Film Festival

    Vancouver Premiere | Director In Attendance

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