Movies at the Cinequest Film Festival

I know that I usually write about movies in the area…movies that everyone can go to and enjoy. Unfortunately the movies I have seen lately are not main stream, but I still would like you to know they exist. You see for the past week I have been interning at the Cinequest Film Festival in San Jose, CA. This is an amazing adventure for me and I am sad that I cannot share all of these movies with you.

Last night I had the honor of meeting a great man and watching his story entitled Emmanuel's Gift. Emmanuel Ofosu Yeboah is a very special man from Ghana. What makes him so great is that although he only has one leg, he has a huge heart. In Ghana children born with disabilities are most often poisoned or left for dead. Emmanuel was one of the lucky few who survived. At a young age Emmanuel wrote to the Challenged Athletes Foundation and requested not money, but a mountain bike. His goal was to ride a bike 600 km around Ghana in order to break down stereotypes and prove to his country that he was as able as any able bodied person. Emmanuel is an awe-inspiring man who makes you want to take on the struggles of the world and make a difference. Since Emmanuel's Gift is narrated by Oprah, let's hope she brings him on the show someday soon.

On a lighter note, I also saw a film called Manual for Love Stories. This Brazilian comedy shows the audience how a romantic comedy is put together by going through the motions throughout the film. As the movie opens, an off screen narrator searches for a protagonist. After landing on one too fat, he finds one too old, etc. until he finally finds a girl suitable for a romantic comedy heroine. The film surprises and delights the audience around every corner.

A highlight of this festival was the movie Set Point directed by Ilmar Taska. Set Point is Taska's directorial debut and I must say it is a beautiful beginning. Shot throughout the medieval streets of Estonia, Set Point takes the audience through an incredible murder-mystery that entangles characters with the harsh reality of their new found freedom. Set Point is a highly intellectual film that forces each member of the audience to ask themselves: How free are we in the bounds of freedom?

So many great movies have been shown this week and I wish I could introduce each one to you. I am extremely honored to be a part of Cinequest and apologize that it has taken my attention away from you. I hope you accept my apology and know that next week I will be back with a brand new review on a movie you can see that very day.