Child of Dawn - review

“When one that is half meets one that is two halves of a whole, then shall there be peace among chaos, unity, and the rightful heir shall

control. For in their meeting, two worlds shall collide, and in their union, their kind shall abide” 

Child of Dawn,  written by Leslie A. Lee, is a spellbinding screenplay that transports to a distant, enchanted atmosphere where anything can happen.

At its center are Anda and Dagsbrun: she embodies light, purity rebellion; he is dark, dangerous and reluctant to any kind of kindness.

Anda — born of human and elven blood — sees Dagsbrun as a ruthless, narcissistic creature. In turn, Dagsbrun — half-elf, half-vampire — treats her as someone he could destroy at will.

How is it possible that two such opposite beings can be the salvation of the world?

Blessed by her mother with latent powers, Anda must find the strength to harness and control them. Meanwhile, Dagsbrun, hardened by his loneliness and his vampire nature, must listen to his heart.

Through Gammel’s guidance - the wise elf -  they realize that their fates are entwined and only together can they bridge the gap between two warring realms.

This 142-page script is not merely a fantastical adventure but also an inner journey — a search for courage, identity, and belief in oneself. 

Through the meticulous description of every single character and a captivating writing,  Leslie A. Lee delivers a story that for sure will conquers the total attention of the readers making them dream and grow.

“He was a secret agent, and still alive thanks to his exact attention to the detail of his profession” – Ian Fleming.

Intriguing and compelling, Spymaster tells the incredible story of the greatest spy of all time: Sidney Reilly, born in Odessa with the name Sigmund Rosenblum, and better known as the Ace of Spies;  a secret agent employed by the special section of Scotland Yard and later by the foreign section of the British Secret Service Bureau.

But who was Reilly?

Produced by Kristen Megarge, this documentary written and directed by Andrew Wallerstein, meticulously retraces the working and private life of this shrewd and fearless adventurer who gave a hard time to Red Russia  and other countless countries.

Considered to be "the dominating figure in the mythology of modern British espionage", it's Reilly's restlessness mixed with courage and rebellion that make him the perfect hero; so ain't a coincidence that this enigmatic and fascinating figure inspired the famous Agent 007 James Bond created by the pen of Ian Fleming who has enthralled millions of people, first through paper and then on the screen.

A brilliantly directed documentary, enhanced by the splendid music composed by Wallerstein and the precious presence of award-winning author Stephen Kinzer and the acclaimed intelligence historian Richard B Spence. 

Space.  So far away, so unknown, so fascinating…

Ain't not a coincidence that in the past, artists of the caliber of David Bowie have created hits inspired by this boundless universe – Space Oddity, Life on Mars – that are still so imprinted in our memory.

Cosmic Rhapsody - A Journey of Hope,  film directed by the talented  Susan Mey Lee Lim and Christina Teenz Tan, was born in a moment of terror, where anxiety, desolation, fear and confusion have inhabited every inhabitant of the earth due to the threatening advent of Corona virus and the dramatic change that has brought to our lives in 2020.

While a suffocating sense of demoralization and impotence afflicted the human race, the bold NASA astronauts decided to literally leave the earth and launch themselves into space aboard SpaceX's CrewDragon.

This launch led Manu Martin to compose what was initially a song and turn it into a real orchestral work. A powerful hymn to resilience, hope, and to a new beginning projected towards the future.

A touching journey to discover the power of human soul and everything that surrounds us.

Forever is not just a word, it is a dedication of love..

Yoram Marcus returns with a short film - part of his Storm Trilogy -entitled My name is Forever, a touching drama dedicated to the memory of his dear friend Ben Ami Steinworf.

A tough decision to make, mixed emotions, anxiety, fear... ending a relationship is perhaps the most difficult thing to do...but then an unexpected phone call arrives, just before the words can come out of your mouth, and everything stops, everything collapses.

Worry and tragedy take over in this short film characterized by the typical style of the Israeli director.

Music blends with the script, becoming an important part of this story that talks about life,  and how everything can drastically change in an moment,

"Life belongs to the living, and he who lives must be prepared for changes.” said Johann Wolfgang von Goethe.

And change is undoubtedly at the center of The New Immigrants - Hong Kongers, short documentary written and directed by Vivian Tsang.

Leaving the great Hong Kong to move to the smaller and diametrically different Manchester ain't an easy step to take, but this film makes us discover the life and sensations of those who wanted to take that step, and each one for different reasons.

We move from the dismay of the first days - rightly caused by a different culture and different rhythms and customs - to an almost total integration in a city rich in history, inhabited by extremely sociable and open people.

Interesting and well directed, this short film succeds especially because  it makes us admire the courage of these "new immigrants" who are not afraid of changing their lives but rather reinventing it.

Oh yes, he’s a great pretender!

When life gives you lemons, my friend … you don’t make a simple lemonade: you use all the lemons for something bigger than your disappointement!

Jerry Vannetti (Rishi Mahesh) is a young boy that doesn’t even think about being a nobody in the world and after another rejection from a College, he decides to play his ace in the hole:  be recognized as a baseball prospect!

Only one problem stands on his way: he knows absolutely nothing about baseball.

The mission is crazy but thanks to the lovely support of his friends Michael (Prance) and Edith (Dana Donnelly) and the supervision of a former baseball prodigy now fallen into oblivion... he will try the impossible just to have a chance.

The password is: FAKE IT! 

But will he really get away with it?

Brilliantly directed by Robert Schultz and Dana Donnelly, The Prospect has all the balls … sorry, the cards… to be a success!

Thanks to a talented cast, good dialogues and impeccable editing, fun is guaranteed in this comedy about the desire to succeed and the beauty of a true friendship.

You can get if you really want!

But if you have imagination and a little cheekiness, it's even better!

A young love made of complicity, smiles and the desire to make it last forever.

Colors, passion and destiny: this is what Aherah's colors -  short film written and directed by Gary Mazeffa - is made of.

Art and love walk on the same track in this film, where they alternate, merge, shape each other to create the story of a life. The one of Raphael (Connor Tuohy) who falls under the hypnotic charm of Asherah (Shira Behore), a girl full of charisma and mystery who manages to infatuate the young man to such an extent that she influences his path.

Chemistry between souls, glances that meet, paintings - those of Hessam Abrishami who is also among the protagonists of the film - capable of perfectly describing the emotions and the magical harmony that only love can give.

A touching and sweet film that for sure will capture your hearts.

Anais Nin wrote “When the erotic and the tender mix in a woman, they give rise to a powerful bond, almost a fixation.”

And womans' figure, it is undoubtedly the protagonist of this film where beauty and desire are the incandescent fulcrum of everything.

Art & Joy & Pleasure, written and directed by Goran Ajtič is a journey to discover femininity; an erotic journey where explicit nudity is shown with an exhibitionism bordering on the 70's pornographic style without falling into the cliché of vulgarity.

There is no shame, there is no limit.

Fragmented into twelve vignettes that summarize twelve different moments, the voyeuristic short film proposes in full light and in multiple colors the sinuosity of naked bodies that embrace each other in hot encounters. 

Kisses, languid caresses, the passage of time as inexorable as passion when it takes possession of lovers.

Sex experienced with total freedom, accompanied by a capturing  soundtrack at the service of images that will manage to whet the imagination of the most conservative spectators too.