Sneak a Peek

The Providence Children's Film Festival returns February 16-21.

Man on a Mission
So you got what it takes to be an astronaut? If not, do you have 30 million dollars? It will not get you onto a NASA space ship but it will on a Russian one. You are Richard Garriott’s co-pilot as his dream to follow his astronaut dad’s path into space is realized… by purchasing a seat on a Soyuz rocket being sent to the International Space Station. Man on a Mission shows like never before what it “takes” to prepare to go to space and how it feels once you get there… and back.All ages. Director Mike Woolf / (USA, 2010) / English / 83 mins.

Soul Boy
A man trades away his soul to a witch one tipsy night. His son is given a chance to gain it back if he can accomplish seven challenging tasks assigned to him by the witch. A spin-off of Harry Potter? No way. Soul Boy is in a league of its own. This film was made in one of the poorest slums in Africa with the people who live there acting out the parts. Part scavenger hunt, part coming of age, and part dark magic film – all make this an unforgettable movie.

You could say that the location is the real protagonist of this film. All African cities have enormous, sprawling slums, but the Kibera district in Nairobi can hardly be called a district at all. It's a muddy ocean of slums in which more than one million people live and battle for survival. Abila (14) lives in the violent slum jungle of Kibera. He is a Luo - one of the many Kenyan tribes. He is smitten with Shiku, who is the same age, but she is a Kikuyu, and that is the problem. Boys and girls from different tribes are not encouraged to mix. But Abila has another problem. At the start of the film, he finds his father in a disturbing state. His mother says it's a hangover, but Abila has a feeling there's more going on. He finds out that his father's soul has been stolen by a Nyawawa, a female spirit. Despite the hostility of the surroundings, Abila and Shiku set off together to save the soul of Abila’s father.

This film emerged from a workshop situation and benefited from production support by the famous German director Tom Tykwer. Above all, the camera work is of a level that is seldom seen in African pictures. The authentic background in combination with the outside support turned Soul Boy into a sparkling – and surprisingly professional looking – short film.

Circus Dreams
“Mom? Dad? I want to join the circus!” As a parent are you prepared for this scenario? See this movie and you will be. Some kids are natural entertainers who have discovered a passion for the circus arts. In Circus Dreams, that passion finds fulfillment at Circus Smirkus, the only traveling youth circus in the US, annually assembling the finest young circus performers for its summer tour (including Rhode Island!). This documentary captures it all, from the grueling auditions to the successful tears of joy in being part of an extraordinary experience. Truly inspirational. Ages 8+ / (USA, 2011) / 80 mins.

Circus Dreams Trailer 2011 from Signe Taylor on Vimeo.

Crocodiles Strike Back
The Crocodiles was a huge hit at our festival last year so bringing the second installment of their trilogy was a no-brainer. This time the gang of pint-sized detectives stumbles across a plot involving a local factory threatened with a mysterious closure. Worried that their parents will lose their jobs, the young sleuths must work together to uncover the sinister plan. Dealing with issues relevant to kids around the world, this entertaining coming-of-age film is guaranteed to thrill audiences. Ages 11+ (Coarse language, brief scenes of violence.) / (Germany, 2010) / German w/English subtitles / 90 mins.

Crocodiles Strike Back Trailer from jcecconi on Vimeo.

 

Tales of the Night
If there were such things as candy for you eyes Tales of the Night would be it. Your vision will be tempted by the detailed Day-Glo backgrounds bursting with color and kaleidoscopic patterns. In director Michel Ocelot’s (Azur & Asmar) storytelling, history blends with fairytale as viewers are whisked off to animated enchanted lands full of dragons, werewolves, captive princesses, sorcerers, and enormous talking bees – and each fable ends with its own unique twist. Ages 8+ (silhouetted scenes of danger/ un-glorified violence) (France, 2011) / in French with English subtitles / 84 mins