The University Filmmakers' Society held the premier of its latest project, Her Infidel, in Newcomb Theater Sunday. Directed by second-year Engineering student Susanna Wong, the films shown Sunday were the first two installments in what will eventually be a nine-episode series.
The exciting part about "Her Infidel" is the utter ambition of the project. Not only is the film daunting in length, but its plot is that of a complex mob movie with numerous storylines and a huge cast.
The story deals with the roles of female leaders in the male-dominated world of gangsters. Though this theme is only hinted at in the first two episodes, it should make for some very interesting character dynamics in the future. The film also involves several ethnic groups, and audiences are shown the racial differences that surface in the violent business of the mob.
Of course the film has its share of problems. The acting is far from professional, though that is an aspect one can easily look past. Some of the camera's attempts to create stylized scenes are unsuccessful and confusing for the viewer. The plot's complexity is not smoothly communicated, and there are scenes that leave the viewer wondering what the hell is going on, (my favorite being a murder via frozen turkey). The film also relies far too heavily on its soundtrack; there is scarcely a moment in the movie without music, and there are even times when the music makes the dialogue difficult to decipher.
But really these are all problems one should expect from a student film. When viewing Her Infidel, one should not anticipate sheer professionalism. This is an ambitious project undertaken by a group of amateurs. Half the fun of watching a student film is observing the weaknesses. Filmmaking is a learning process that can only be improved upon through experience, and those who succeed in the art form are those who actually take the initiative and go for it. Kudos to Wong for diving headfirst into such an enormous project, though a simpler plotline may have been the way to go.
Probably the biggest dilemma with Her Infidel is the fact that these episodes are simply the beginning of what will eventually be an entire series. The majority of what was seen Sunday was merely the introduction to the film's characters and situations. When the final credits began to roll, I was left with the strong sense that what I had just seen was incomplete --- and it was. Viewers will now have to wait months for the following episodes to be produced in order to see what happens next. Talk about cliffhangers.
It's exciting to see the ever-growing popularity and success of the University's student filmmakers, and Her Infidel is certainly one of the biggest projects ever taken on by FMS. If you're simply looking for an entertaining movie to watch, Her Infidel may not be the way to go because of its amateurism. But if you're interested in seeing the accomplishments of your peers and viewing the learning process of filmmaking, it's definitely something to check out. DVDs will be available through FMS.
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