True/False Films

To Have and To Hold

In person: directors Daniel Robin (My Olympic Summer), and Maura Ugarte & Michael Miller (Through Fire and Water).

When we love, we want to hold on to the object of our affection at any cost. But how hard should we hold on and when is it okay to let go? These five beautiful films explore issues of love and loss.

My Olympic Summer — In the context of his own cracking marriage, filmmaker Daniel Robin explores his parents' union. He discovers a letter detailing his mother's unhappiness, feelings which were then swallowed up by historical dramas that kept his parents together. So what truths are these home movies telling?

Through Fire and Water — Injured Marine Mike Jernigan lost a lot from his experiences in the Iraq War and the consequences once he returned home. But he has managed to make a new life for himself, even as he struggles with his inner conflict over the war. Here we see the repercussions of war in human form — but this is one man not to be pitied.

Bulletproof Vest — In Richmond, California, young kids and mothers talk about the violence that is present everyday. The black-and-white imagery and mature observations show a world where innocence is lost.

Loss — Years after her father dies, director Kristen Nutile attempts to resurrect memories of him through old family movies. In a beautiful mix of grainy old footage, music and interviews with her family, she recreates a portrait of her father. We go on this moving journey with her to rediscover the past.

One Day — In a small apartment in Copenhagen, a 36-year-old Ghanaian prostitute runs her business. We see the grainy images from the hallway surveillance camera as customers come in and out and call for appointments. But inside, in saturated, extreme-close-up shots, we see the tasks of her everyday life, most importantly the calls to her daughter back in Ghana. The intimate and painful conversations convey what a mother must do to support her child. (KC)