The Trailer that Knew Too Much
At the indy film Festival this year, I had the chance to see the trailer for Sarey Martin Concepción’s latest film, “The Winemaker”. The trailer, which I had seen last year at Theology Beer Camp, had given me a glimpse of the film’s West Coast winery setting. However, I was completely unaware that the movie was a science fiction film from start to finish. Sarey, whom I had met on a panel about Star Trek and religion, was the only filmmaker from the series to attend the Q&A session after the film. I won’t give away any spoilers, but I encourage you to stream the movie online for a few more days courtesy of the Indy film fest. For those who watch it, let’s discuss it in the comments.
A Variety of Thought-Provoking Films
While I was blown away by “The Winemaker”, I also enjoyed other films in the session that were equally thought-provoking. “VHS” was a hilarious stop-motion creation that left me in stitches. “Good Night June” was fascinating, set in a dystopian future where a woman keeps her husband locked up at night while the radio broadcasts a message about wives’ obedience from the Supreme Teacher.
- “tin hill No.9” and “Suche Nach” (Looking For) were both subtle and eerie in effective ways.
- These films left you with more questions than answers, but still provided enough to ponder and chew over.
I also enjoyed “Tin hill no.9” and “Suche Nach”, which were both subtle and eerie in effective ways. They added to the overall sense of unease and uncertainty that pervaded the session.
A Table of Some Notable Films
| Movie Title | Director | Genre |
|---|---|---|
| The Winemaker | Sarey Martin Concepción | Science Fiction |
| VHS | Unknown | Stop-Motion Animation |
| Good Night June | Unknown | Dystopian |
| Tin Hill No.9 | Unknown | Psychological Thriller |
| Suche Nach | Unknown | Psychological Thriller |
| Le Cosmos | Unknown | Surreal |
A Discussion of the Films
The films in the session were all thought-provoking and left me with more questions than answers. However, they all provided enough to ponder and chew over. “Le Cosmos” was surreal and worked well, but was not one of the genuinely abstract films I had been referring to.
“I think that’s what makes film so powerful. It’s not just about the visual elements, but also about the emotions and ideas that are conveyed through them. When you’re watching a film, you’re not just seeing images, you’re experiencing a world and a story that can be interpreted in many different ways.”
This quote from an unknown filmmaker highlights the power of film to evoke emotions and ideas. The films in the session were all effective in conveying their messages, and left me with a lot to think about.
A Personal Note
I’ve found that I’ve seen many shorter and lower budget films that have been deeply meaningful and rewarding. Is this true for you? I need to get to more film festivals and see more of these types of films. My son Alex McGrath composed the score for the short horror film Carnivora, which has been making the film festival rounds. The religious symbolism in that film, as in many of the films at the recent Indy Film Fest, make it worthy of academic attention as well as just generally engaging. Have a listen to the end credits music here.
A Call to Action
If you’re interested in watching “The Winemaker” and discussing it with others, I encourage you to stream it online for a few more days courtesy of the Indy Film Fest. Let’s start a conversation about this thought-provoking film!
