Film Review : Arts Castaway.

Arts Castaway is the latest offering from the stable of Phillip Debs ProVisual.

It takes you on a visual journey of Cockatoo Island as part of the Sydney Biennele, and saw it's premiere screening at the most recent Kino Sydney open-mic night. Exploring the artworks that lay all over the island, this short features the film maker himself proudly taking a hands-on role assisting Korean artist Choi Jeong Hwa with an installation.

Arts Castaway opens with a ferry ride across Sydney Harbour on a gloriously sunny autumn morning. Once you step onto the island, there is interesting artwork all around, and sculptures that are thought provoking and somewhat confronting. The film was made using a Nokia E71 mobile phone, and is accompanied by Rimsky-Korsakov's "Flight of the Bumblebee" - a highly appropriate instrumental piece that accentuates the pace of the film beautifully, and highlights the "point of view" technique used.

Debs has provided another short void of dialogue, showing us that there is more to connecting with each other than the spoken word. His cheeky editing sets a frantic pace - something required to take in all there is to see on the island (or repeat visits !), and is a reflection on the pace of life in the hustle-bustle of Sydney. Whilst the appreciation of art may need time and contemplation, Debs leads us on a wild journey through flashes of light and colour. With all the restrictions of a mobile phone considered, this film is another piece of in your face art in itself.

The closing moments of footage are highly befitting the end of the film. Arts Castaway will take you on a cracking ride and send you home with more than a few lasting memories.

For more short films from Phillip Debs ProVisual, head to his channel on youtube : http://www.youtube.com/user/phillipdebs, or go to his website : www.pdprovisual.com.au

And if you're interested in watching or making independent short films, check out Kino Sydney : http://sites.google.com/a/kinosydney.com/kinosydney/

More reviews to come. Feel free to leave a comment !!