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July 31 - August 7, 1996 Babyface
Dir. Don M. Gaile, 1996. N/R. 24 mins. |
Despite its similarity to Alan Parker's brilliant Bugsy Mallone - both are period Mafia capers with prepubescent casts in grown up drag - this indie short is well worth a look for its stunning production values and high cute quotient. Shot on location with hundreds of costumed extras, it's a producer's nightmare, but Gaile has the organizational chops: By day, he's a vice president at Bankers Trust.
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Chosen for Child's "Best of the Year" videos for 1996. |
Deftly mixing comedy and satire in the guise of a Thirties gangster/dance movie, this black-and-white short--starring cast members who are all 13 or younger--takes a knowing look at the adult world from a child's perspective.
I must admit I have never reviewed a short film before, however, I couldn't have picked a better film than Babyface to start. The film begins with a gang of criminals supposedly breaking into a bank for some loot. Little do we know that once the locks to the secured safe break, a plethora of candy falls into the laps of actually pre-teen gangsters! I guess that's when it hit me--these kids would trade in hardcore violence and drugs, for listening to nursery rhymes and candy any day!
The film soon takes a turn from burglary to innocent romance when Babyface (Giancarlo Giunta) "bumps" into the girl of his dreams, Laura (Blair Ciali). For this reason, he attempts to resign from being a gangster. His only hardship is that--hello--he already has a girlfriend named Bunny Harmony! Bunny's the typical bombshell lounge singer who years for rock candy. Now why am I not surprised that she only likes Babyface for his "business"?
The cast performed competently, however, not up to the standard of the film's content. I feel as though there may have been too much focus on the physical aspect of the film rather that the characters' portrayed personalities. Anyhow, I must comment on the clothing and nostalgic set--they're to die for.
