Continuing my Frameline coverage, I attended a series of shorts yesterday all hailing from Switzerland. Who knew such a small country could generate such a wonderful assortment of queer cinema? This is a fabulous grouping of films (with one glaring exception), with most of the films beautifully filmed and well constructed. The title was no mistake, this collection of shorts was a real treat!

"14h05"
Director: Nasha Gagnebin
Trevor's Rating: 3 / 5 Stars

14h05 is a powerful, very short (clocking in at 6 minutes) film that gives us a brief vignette into the anxieties of new parenthood for a gay couple, Alex and Julien, about to adopt a child. Julien is having doubts about his new role as daddy, but Alex does his best to quell his jitters as they head to the airport to pick up their baby. This film immediately raises questions about transnational adoption that are not explored, with a woman in traditional Indian garb deplaning to bring the couple their new child. I'm guessing they adopted an Indian baby because it's cheaper than adopting in Switzerland, but these intricacies are left untouched. The film left me feeling a bit uneasy because of the way these questions and problematics were left wholly unexplored, but for a six minute adventure it was a strong piece.

"510 METERS ABOVE SEA LEVEL"
Director: Kerstin Polte
Trevor's Rating: 4.5 / 5 Stars

This short film (16 min.) packs a lot of punch! It has all the magic I've come to expect from European cinema, artfully taking time to indulge in the wonder of the world around us and the quirks that make life worth living. Here we find Simone stuck in an airport in Switzerland, trying to get on a flight to attend her father's funeral. Planes have been grounded because of the weather, so Simone desperately tries to find a way to get to the funeral. When she can't find a way out, she runs into a mysterious woman who may or may not be living at the airport. The woman says she's "waiting," but for what or whom we're not told. These women share a wonderous night together, finding magic in the nooks and crannies of the otherwise drab and sterile airport. It's a great film. Delicious, light, and endearing.

And the best part? You can watch the entire thing right now! Here:

"COMME UNE LETTRE A LA POSTE"
Director: Filippo Filliger
Trevor's Rating: 4 / 5 Stars

A real delight! Comme une lettre a la poste is a whimsical short that tells the story of a graduate student who suspects his academic adviser has been ripping off his own work. The only problem: he can't prove it and his professor has no interest in helping him graduate! Frustrated, Franco flips through his professor's briefcase where he finds the card of a local professional Dom. Upon revealing this newfound information to his co-workers, they scheme to gather evidence that the professor had indeed been paying visits to the local sex worker and use it to blackmail him into letting Franco graduate. The ensuing antics are totally endearing and manage to make S&M play humorous without mocking or demeaning its practitioners (a careful line, indeed). The title is a French expression, meaning to do something very easily, and indeed Franco winds up getting what he wants -- but not entirely the way he expected. If you can get your hands on it, you should!

"DANCING TO HAPPINESS"
Director: Barbara Seixwe
Trevor's Rating: 5 / 5 Stars

This is a nearly perfect short. It has everything you'd want. It's cute, never boring, and totally endearing. Anna is a cleaning lady at a high-power office suite. Helen (a *fierce* Marianne Hamre) is a high-power broker. Fate unites them for a salsa class, with Helen awkwardly and robotically moving through the steps, and Anna bringing a bit of zest and charm to the dancerfloor. They're an adorable matchup, and the film is oozing with feel-good-goodness.

"EASY TIGER"
Director: Alkmini Boura
Trevor's Rating: 3.5 / 5 Stars

A strange and somewhat dark drama brings to life the story of a mysterious lady, Lia, who keeps returning to a copy shop to inquire if she's missed any messages. Elena, the copy shop clerk, is bemused by Lia's bizarre antics, until she wakes up from the monotony of her job to find Lia robbing the place blind. A chase ensues, and while Elena manages to tackle Lia to the ground, they of course enjoy their bodies pressed against each other a bit too much for either of them to be upset. It's a charming, if at times strange film. I thought it got a bit sloppy towards the end, with a strange ending that didn't quite live up to the film's possibilities. But it's a nice entry, for sure.

"EYE AND AXIS"
Directors: Cecilia Barriga, Claudia Lorenz
Trevor's Rating: 0 / 5 Stars

This experimental short has graduate school psychobabble written all over it. A pelican flying over the horizon. Images of gurgling water interspersed with images of a nude woman. Spare me. Film critics might say that I just "don't get it," but for give more feeling like this film is a classic example of "postmodern" tripe. I give it exactly zero stars.

"FIFTH FUGUE"
Directors: Nasha Gagnebin
Trevor's Rating: 2 / 5 Stars

Four minutes long, this is quite a short short! It attempts to tell the story of a young twink who takes piano lessons from an older man, and it ends up with a series of fantasies of the two fucking. But despite the potential for sexy deliciousness, it just didn't reel me in.

"VANDALEN"
Directors: Simon Steuri
Trevor's Rating: 5 / 5 Stars

Vandals is a dark but beautifully and carefully shot story of Sebastian and Johannes, two incredibly sexy young graffiti artists who are embroiled in a lusty affair. Tension sparks when one wants more than the other thinks he's ready to offer -- namely, a public recognition of their secret romance. It's a truly wonderful film, managing just the right amount of attention to detail without coming across as artificial or trite. If you can get your paws on this film, you really should. If you speak Swiss/German, you can find a trailer for the film here.