VSFF '25 Reviews | easybake, Beyond the Salish, Have I Swallowed Your Dreams

I'm no short film specialist, but I do love short fiction literature! This week I was lucky enough to get early access to watch three of the film screenings for the Vancouver Short Film Festival happening this weekend, and here is what I have to say. Take notes because you're going to want to watch them! All the information can be found in the links included at the end of the article!

Let's get to it:

easybake

The ability to walk the line between grotesque and emotional is a hard one, but this short film directed by Sasha Duncan hits the spot.

Let me warn you, if you don't like horror, this short film might be a hard one to watch. There are a few scenes, specifically the eating scenes, that can elicit a lot of discomfort. The best way I would describe it is that it indulges in indulgence.

In the most poetic manner, easybake is exactly what you'd expect: it is an act of being devoured. As Kami (Alexis Hope) gets consumed by the ability to morph her body into what she wants, the more she disappears into her insecurity, and so do we.

Hating what you look like is a horrifying thought to be plagued with, and Kami (Alexis Hope) steals the screen in a way that is both relatable and painful. There isn't much subtlety in the story, including the dialogue, which is curt and minimal, and I think that is an important part of the way it translates on screen; just like her insecurity, the film is also raw and blunt. There isn't a lot of movement, but the more Kami becomes consumed by her insecurities, so does the audience. Each scene gets closer and closer, zooming in on Kami in a way that fragments her into disgustingly digestible parts.

The moment that Kami took her first bite, I felt a little resonance from "The Edible Woman" by Margaret Atwood. I'm not certain if this was an intentional choice, but it does demonstrate Duncan's incredible job of depicting the way that hunger encroaches over the body. Similarly, the narrative seems to take a bite out of a page from "The Hunger Artist" by playing around with extreme imagery when it comes to consumption (or starvation).

Despite my aversion to body horror, I think it is important that any eating scene in the film elicits intense shock and discomfort because it feels true to the experience. As someone who has grappled with body image and weight, I felt that Duncan did a really good job of showcasing the isolation and vulnerability of becoming eaten up by self-dissatisfaction. Every time that Kami eats, especially when she munches on that clay, the shot feels grotesque, almost primal, imitating how insecurity and self-hatred takes over the body.

The ending, although predictable, still closes the narrative in a way that is horrifying, real, and perfectly dissatisfying.

Beyond the Salish

I'm not much of a documentary watcher, but Beyond the Salish was both comforting and engaging in the strangest way.

Maybe it was the underwater shots, contrasted against gorgeous overhead scenes of Vancouver's coast, or maybe it was their bright kayaks slicing through the choppy waters combined with the gentle music, but this documentary was one of the most visually soothing projects that I have seen.

What I really enjoyed about this project was the honesty that Richard brought into his narrative. The film itself is formatted as a personal journal, delving into Richard's internal thoughts and reflections as he and his friend (and co-director), William, attempt the tumultuous journey of kayaking across the coast of Vancouver Island. However, more than that, this story is a raw and honest recognition of naive hope and ambition in the face of reality.

This might be a hot take, but I wished there was a bit more tension when Richard and William faced off against that final storm. Instead, the series of cuts removed me from the moment, and I felt that their near-death experience passed and resolved a little too quickly for it to leave the impact that it could have. Arguably, keeping the drowning scene short might have been an intentional decision as it plays into the reality of how quickly the waters can eat you up. Yet, a part of me still feels that focusing more on his fear before him accepting his death might have helped raise the stakes of the experience.

I did love the way Richard used the snippets of the waterlogged photographs to help establish nostalgia and sorrow surrounding his revelation. The moment where he sinks below the surface is touching and becomes the perfect catalyst for his realization.

What differentiates Beyond the Salish from other documentaries is that, ultimately, it is not about completing a goal (I'm thinking about Free Solo here); rather, it is about understanding the implications and motivations behind pursuing a dream. In Richard's case, his understanding of freedom and adventure changed when he realized what the reality of pursuing that dream entailed. Paralleling it to Christopher McCandless' journey, and untimely death, Richard warns of the dangers of becoming consumed by idealism, highlights the importance of respecting nature, and emphasizing the importance of valuing your life and safety.

Have I Swallowed Your Dreams

Phenomenal. Truly, absolutely poetic and visually captivating! From the simplicity of its narrative, and showcasing love from both parent and child, this short film both isolates and reconciles a mother and daughter as they navigate the complexity of their identities.

Experimenting with both the visual art form and poetry, this short film encapsulates the guilt of being born to immigrant parents, as well as the unconditional love that exists between them. I might even argue that the animation itself is its own poetry, playing with loose, thin lines, and neutral colours to showcase the blurred, unspoken middleground between parent and child as they sit in their own narratives, their own separate worlds.

Don't even get me started on the poetry. The poem begins by positing both mother and daughter in their separate worlds, across the table from each other, on separate chairs. This separation is furthered when the daughter reflects on her mother's life, her sacrifices, and the guilt that surrounds her. The poem immediately switches perspective by showing the mother's point of view and her gratitude for the life she brought forth. The poem, both musical and simple, forms a letter to both daughter and mother as a way to unite and connect them to each other.

Clara Chan does not let the differences or trauma settle and sever generations from each other. Instead, with the simple motion of holding a hand, she reminds us of how despite everything, what matters most is family.

Final Thoughts:

Go and watch these films. Seriously!

When watching these short films, keep an eye out for the way consumption plays a huge part in the narrative. Each film investigates a different kind of hunger: easybake explores a literal hunger for food or thinness, Into the Salish critiques the hunger for adventure and freedom, and Have I Swallowed Your Dreams presents the guilt of having consumed too much of a parent's life. From Kami chomping aggressively on the clay figurine, to Richard munching on his lunch before facing the storm, to the daughter slurping on the boba from her bubble tea, each film swallows its own hard pill and asks us to do the same.

For more information on the VSFF: https://vsff.eventive.org/schedule