"Perfectly A Strangeness”: SBIFF Presents Its Most Intimate Short Film
Rating: ★★★★☆
Santa Barbara International Film Festival unveils its most intimate short film, unraveling a glimpse into the mysterious frequency of donkeys, where reality bends and echoes through their quiet, unspoken world. It’s intuitive, alive, and deeply felt.
In an otherworldly way, there is a hypnotic beauty in “Perfectly A Strangeness”. It reaches places no one else can touch.
Donkeys have become a rare gem in Hollywood, with filmmakers crafting intricate, purposeful scenes that showcase these creatures. This strangeness, this captivating essence, stretches beyond the horizon, embodying a delicate, whimsical portrayal of humanity's rebirth—reminding us that we are not the center of the universe. A stunning, ethereal depiction unfolds.
Outside La Silla Observatory. Photo credit: Nicolas Canniccioni
Three donkeys—named Paloma, Ruperto, and Palaye—roam freely, following their own path on the property of La Silla Observatory. Strangeness is all around us—felt and seen in every moment. Director Alison McAlpine creates art not for fleeting success, but out of a deeper, intrinsic desire. There’s a harmony between the donkeys and cinematographer Nicolas Canniccioni, a partnership that vibrates on the same frequency. Hear the subtle harmonies, the counterpoint of voices, the rhythmic flow—it’s pure beauty.
Palaye, Palomo, Ruperto. Photo credit: Nicolas Canniccioni
Santa Barbara International Film Festival Presents:
Nature Shorts 2: Poetic with a Touch of the Surreal Screenings
Sun 2/9 – 9:00 AM – Film Center, Aud 4
Mon 2/10 – 12:00 PM – Film Center, Aud 4
