Story by Miriam Gershenson; Photos by Albert Kreimerman
SAN DIEGO – A science fiction short film showcase at Comic-Con is a thrilling event! It’s a great way to discover innovative storytelling and visual effects from up-and-coming filmmakers. From dystopian futures to intergalactic adventures, these short films can transport audiences to fascinating new worlds in just a few minutes. It’s a testament to the power of imagination and the boundless possibilities of the sci-fi genre.
My husband Albert, who took photos of exhibits at the museum, and I had the chance on June 8 to check out one of these short film showcases. This one featured three movies:
The Rat’s Dilemma by Naor Meningher from Israel
Heal by Mian Adnan Ahmad from Pakistan
Man Vs. Woman by Juan Carlos Vargas from USA
The Rat’s Dilemma has a very serious tone to it. The movie is in Hebrew with English subtitles. Taking place during the Holocaust, Rudolph, a Jewish prisoner, must develop a teleportation machine for the Nazis. One day, Heinz, the Nazi officer supervising Rudolph, questions Rudolph on the machine. Rudolph insists the machine is not working yet, Heinz doesn’t believe him.
Heinz lets Rudolph know that he will be trying this machine on Yaakov the following day. As the audience, we don’t know exactly who Yaakov is to Rudolph but we do know he is someone important to him. Sure enough, the following day, Heinz bring Yaakov to the machine and Rudolph has to teleport him. Rudolph tells Yaakov in Yiddish that he is getting him out of there. Unfortunately, the machine doesn’t work and Yaakov explodes.
Another Jewish prisoner comes in to clean the machine. It had been his job each day to clean it after the Rats exploded within it. He finds a mess much bigger than that of a rat. He gets inside the machine and signals to Rudolph to turn the machine on. The man is teleported to a cold, heavily snowing location. The movie ends.
The Rat’s Dilemma takes only minutes but the emotions it stirred up were unbelievable. Perhaps because it took place during the Holocaust or that it’s in Hebrew, or maybe because we connect to losing someone, or perhaps all things combined. Whatever it is, filmmaker Meningher did a phenomenal job with this creation.
After this movie, we were shown Heal. The director sent a video message that was presented to the audience. He said the movie’s message of peace is relevant today with the war in Gaza. He wanted to promote peace and yet, he biasedly mentions the Palestinians who died but makes no mention of the Jews. He spoke about a permanent ceasefire and justice for the Palestinians but no such thing mentioned for the Jews and Israel aside from returning the hostages in what seemed like an afterthought.
The order of these movies seemed to be intentional. It made me wonder if Meningher was offered to make a video statement or was that privilege extended only to Ahmad.
We finished with Man Vs. Woman . Director Vargas was there to speak about the movie. This movie’s tone was different from those before it as it had a lot of humor. It took place in a dystopian time where water was lacking. Think Jurassic Park meets Mad Max.
A tiny bit of water appears after a meteorite falls from the sky and hits the ground. A man, a woman, a dinosaur, and a robot all detected this water and each needed it. They all rush to it from different corners of the land, arriving exactly at the same time. There is a standoff followed by a battle. The robot ends up getting destroyed. The dinosaur gets killed, and the man and woman end up finding themselves one on one. Instead of fighting, sexual desires take over. In the meantime, the woman slowly reaches for a big rock, knocks the guy unconscious, and takes the water.
In conclusion, the science fiction short film showcase at Comic-Con provided a captivating glimpse into the imaginative worlds of up-and-coming filmmakers. From the poignant narrative of The Rat’s Dilemma to the thought-provoking message of Heal and the comedic twist of Man Vs. Woman, each film offered a unique perspective on themes ranging from historical tragedies to contemporary conflicts and futuristic dystopias.
Through the power of visual storytelling, these short films demonstrated the enduring relevance and boundless creativity of the sci-fi genre. As audiences left the showcase, they carried with them not only the excitement of cinematic exploration but also a deeper appreciation for the diverse voices shaping the landscape of science fiction cinema.
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Miriam Gershenson is a dog-loving freelance writer based in Escondido. Albert Kreimerman, her husband, is a freelance photographer.