Title: Chicken
Director: Barry Dignam
Starring: Darren Healey
-------------Niall O'Shea
Running Time: 2 mins 53 secs
English Dialogue

Two Irish teen lads Mick and Kev are wasting time by the shore, throwing rocks at empty cans and drinking cider. When one engages the the other in a game of mumbly peg, as a train approaches the real reason for Micks pushiness may yet be revealed.

As metaphor goes, the game of chicken can be over used. In Dignams' short however that very game is what drives the characters urges. Mick may aswell be daring Kev to kiss him. This brief short, sharply focusing on a single moment of revelation for both boys is a tight and strong piece.

Chicken - Short Film
Uploaded by doyler1985

Ma Vie (variously known as Ma VraisVie a Rouen or My Life on Ice) focuses on the story of 16 year-old Etienne (Jimmy Tavares), who living alone with his single mother (Ariane Ascaride) charts a rather turbulent year with his video camera. The year is spent charting conversations with bestfriend Ludovic (Lucas Bonnifait), Etienne's training as an ice skater and his almost stalker like obsession with his Geography teacher (with whom initial plans seem to be to set up with his mother.)

As a charming, heart on it's sleeve, emotional rollercoaster Ma Vie achieves exactly what it sets out to do. Tavares is a handsome and charming lead, characteristics required when some of his actions with the camera stray closer to uncomfortable obsession than video diary nonsense. His handheld Sony camcorder lingers a little too long for comfort in the changing rooms or over his mothers new boyfriends face but we follow that perhaps he is less aware of what he is doing than those he spies on.

This isn't really a "Coming Out" film but more a "Coming to terms" film, Etiennes discovery of his desires is a slow process for him and one that isn't helped by his best friends unwillingness to broach anything close to the subject, instead trying to get him with girls he dscribes as easy. Etienne however finds his feelings difficult to contain however and it leads on to an uneasy and emotional ending.

While the technique of filming the whole movie through a camcorder grows tiresome in places it is pulled into place courtesousy of some fantastic performances. Tavares in particular (in his only role to date) is an affecting and engaging actor and Ariane Ascaride as his put upon but never less than loving mother offers a wonderful emotional anchor for the whole film.