Remixed is a 23-minute family drama that looks as how middle-aged people might tackle a bucket list set for a carefree twenty-something.
As three friends reconnect with their pasts through a set of burned CDs left 13-years earlier by their dead pal, they realise what is good about themselves.
Liz (Lauren Leon, who is also co-writer with her husband Frank), Aubrey (Emily Bolcik) and Isaac (Jose Duran) are strongly believable as childhood friends.
As this is a TV pilot, it has lots of series potential for further plots to bring the three together, and as such makes an impressive start.
Remixed was seen at Dances With Films 26.
****
Heightened is a film written and directed by Sara Friedman, and focuses on Nora as she recovers from a mental breakdown.
After a slightly shaky start, it settles into a buddy movie where Nora makes a friend of her colleague in voluntary park service, Dusty.
As her OCD settles and her guard against people slowly comes down, Heightened displays a lot of charm through the performances of Friedman as Nora and Dave Register as Dusty.
As the two support each other, this light comedy does its best to tackle issues around psychological turmoil, but suffers a bit from the stereotypical supporting characters, including the park boss, Mitch, and Nora’s mother.
Mostly presented as a two-hander, Heightened has great locations and a sense of humour, which presents Nora and Dusty as fully-rounded humans beyond their problems.
Very watchable, this film was seen at Dances With Films 26 and continues on the festival circuit.
***.5