Idle Mist (1998) User Reviews

College freshmen could do better

[d-tsapkou · 4/10 · 23 November 2008]

I have been looking for this short film for about a year and I cant believe this is it. For some very odd reason, Vena Espuma appears in the similar section along with The Matrix, Minority Report and other futuristic/distopic movies. So, obviously, I came with some expectations. And it turned out to be the worst piece of cinematography I've seen in quite a while. The acting is just terrible, the dialogues are empty, and the music is burdensome.

There's only one neat - but not fresh - idea in the film, and it's unfortunately in the very end. Here am I, saving your time: "what if all of us and all the world as we know it is just someone's dream?". The content of the movie implies that, therefore, we cannot quite determine where the reality ends and a dream begins.

Triumph of the will

[namyah · 9 February 2002]

Film making south of the border in a feat for titans. You make movies for four thousand dollars, that is, 4 minutes of the production of "Jurassic Park". So, what Andres Useche has done is truly remarkable: a great indie, a wonderful short, and no budget. The storytelling is magnificent, the acting is shining, the soundtrack (yes, an original one) is full of creativity and talent.

This is the proof of what can be achieved by a creative mind truly obsessed with the medium

Its a shameless exercise of egocentricity

[diegogue · 1/10 · 10 May 2002]

This ugly short, is the adaptation from the comic "vana espuma", (other Useche's creation) one of the worst comics ever made in Colombia, and the whole world. Bad directed, bad performed, bad written. This movie perfectly could have never been.

something not so different

[x_e_l_a_ · 3/10 · 22 August 2004]

This movie is to be summed up in one word disappointing. It's short and to the point, says what it needs to say then ends. But it tries a little too hard to be original. The actress was amazing, I thought she was very genuine. Mr. Useche should stick to directing, he just appeared to be angry in the movie all the time. I thought the the story line was different at the same time familiar. Everyone has played with reality meets perception meets the general consensus, it was a little exotic with the whole cat thing but every culture has its own folklore about reality and sleep/waking stuff. He took it a little farther by involving the other identity entirely separate from the guy, but I still think it could have been better.

Must see for anyone interested in film-making.

[hayu82 · 7/10 · 14 April 2005]

Solid flick, absolutely nothing short of amazing considering the budget.

I first heard of this by following recommendations through IMDb. It took a while and some effort to get a copy of it, and I'm glad I did.

The movie is short, with a run time of half an hour. However it is a nice, gestalten mixture of plot, polish, presentation, as well as great ambiance in presenting the themes of estrangement and emotional petulance. (Which is more than I can say for many big studio projects) Add a VERY professional sounding and appropriately haunting soundtrack, the movie becomes positively astounding given that only $100 was spent in its making.

It is not to say that the movie is flawless, it is fundamentally an amateur, independent movie. Despite more than solid acting overall, moments of awkwardness still surfaces, and the ending was somewhat anticlimactic.

This movie is a must see for anyone interested in film-making; it shows that one's vision can be realized despite perceived conventional hurdles. I excitedly look forward to future works from Useches.

If anything, this movie will have you whistling/humming its tunes... it made me!

Intriguing

[enriquegon2000 · 10/10 · 4 October 2001]

This fascinating film deals with one of the most intriguing aspects of human life: The dreaming state. Unlike other movies that merely exploit the subject, this one actually digs up all it's philosophical complexities without being pedantic yet getting the point through to most people.

A short film to make other beginners jealous - and inspired :-)

[j.dawson · 9/10 · 22 September 2000]

I thought of this as "The Incredible Hulk" written by Niels Bohr. I don't mean that as a flippant comment, but to show the beautiful balance of seriousness and playfulness in the film. The filmmaking is of a different order here than most low budget, indie films. Andres clearly understands the language of film, and uses it to great effect. The acting performances are also very impressive - this isn't just a case of getting any old friends into roles and not worrying about whether they can act. Great fun that makes an impact, emotionally and intellectually - what more can you ask of a movie? (Oh, and I only gave it a 9, because there are a few technical issues that require a bigger budget, which hopefully he'll have for the next movie)

A new look at reality.

[brooklyn94 · 9/10 · 29 May 2003]

Vana Espuma is a fantastic film. The writer examined reality from an exciting, different view of acceptance. This film is a throw back to the great early television shows "Twilight Zone" or "Alfred Hitchcock Presents." The director uses the camera and effects to tell the story, not to make it "cool" however, the effects are cool. This is a great exercise in film making.

One of those great movies that just keep screaming inside your head

[caografo · 9/10 · 5 June 2002]

A great one, make myself doubt about reality, not only when I first saw it, every time i remember it the world turns kind of fake. The best thing is that the story is told to be as real as possible.

A meandering admixture

[LibertarianKing · 8/10 · 18 April 2005]

Andres Useche's film despite some technical issues (due to the extreme low-budget and short time frame to complete) takes the viewer into a world of fictional reality. After watching and reading background on the film, I hold to the idea that the film is in fact inspired by Berkeley's philosophical premise as even quoted in the film, "to be is to be perceived." In many ways the film leads us to think about the very nature of reality - insofar as that all that which we perceive is real. The narrative then takes that reality and directs us to wonder exactly how much our perceptions and those around us change and make fluid our reality.

The acting was solid and though at times you do feel as though you are watching a film rather than taken in by verisimilitude because of the way the camera moves, by some awkwardness in the delivery, or by the gritty/unpolished look it often has, those things that would normally detract from the movie only further it on an intellectual basis when considering the meaning of the narrative. The artwork is also amazing and comes into stark contrast with the rest of the "look" of the film until as time moves on they become closer and closer to blending into some sort of translucent haze of perception - how we see the world.

Wonderfully done. Can't wait to see more of Mr. Useche's work.

Very Interesting!

[mapiprincess · 9/10 · 7 October 2001]

This is a great movie. Very cool, with different outcomes. Dreams and nightmares are the subject matter. I liked the character design, the images in general and the music very much. The performances of some of the minor characters could be improved and so could quality of the sound, but that's okay taking into account that is low budget first movie. The webpages suggested in the vana espuma board are impressing, very much worth checking out:

>

This is a good story with a really interesting support

[juanmas · 8/10 · 14 November 2000]

There are two relevant points I would like to write about Vana Espuma. In a country in which movie is not the best artistic expression, so there are not important directors, it is really good finding a very young artist who has developed a specific project. Useche has supported his tale through many scientific facts and carried it out playing such a big number of roles (actor, director, writer,...). In the other hand, we can think this is one of those kinds of films that are only produced by a great imagination, but if you read the Vana Espuma's support as well as its background , you will find a very interesting study about philosophy, physics and even psychology, which allowed Useche to build a complete project and to take his film out of the group of common Colombian films.

The greatest independence movie

[h_maki · 9/10 · 11 April 2001]

At first, I was confused with seeing this film which isn't any Japanese subtitles. But I was absorbed in the story soon. And I wanted to see this movie more long when the movie was finished. It seemed to watch their actual life because actors were really natural acting.

The story is especially wonderful!! I felt something spiritual and philosophy in this movie. I'm not familiar about philosophy but, I thought whether I'm really living here now. Because there is proof nowhere that we are not resident in the dream like them....

I look forward to seeing his next movie.

Great short film if you have the right attitude.

[LeighHoyte · 9/10 · 11 April 2005]

Anyone watching this short film expecting to see a film with the production qualities of a Hollywood movie will be sadly disappointed. Yet should you watch this film and consider it was made with a budget of $200 you will be truly amazed. What Andrés Useche has achieved with this piece of work is proof that a strong, well written story, great artist skill and imagination can produce work that embraces the likes of Hollywood considering the difference in production costs. So if you are looking to watch this short film (and you can find it - It's rarer than honest politician) please consider the production costs. I was especially impressed with Andrés's use of camera effects, lighting and the use of his artwork mixed with the film which provided some great imagery. I really, really, really hope someone over in Hollywood land gives Andrés a proper budget and lets him get on with producing great work.

An excellent film debut for the director.

[jcadenag · 9/10 · 4 November 2000]

This is really a very good film, the treatment and mise-en-scene are daring and different, it was done in natural locations with a low budget so it's a bigger accomplishment for Andrés Useche who wrote it, directed it, starred in it and composed the music which fits every scene perfectly. An excellent film debut for the director.