Sav Film Fest 17

For for first ever SCAD Savannah Film Festival, I saw two movies: Served Like a Girl and Beatriz at Dinner.

Served Like a Girl is a documentary following contestants participating in Miss Veteran America 2015. It's a film I feel as though I can't put the right words to, let alone do justice. The contestants that were followed allowed the cameras into the raw, painful realities that they face as mothers, daughter, women, veterans, and so much more. It is the kind of movie that makes you think about just how blessed your life is, that makes you remember the person walking past you on the street has a story as complicated and confusing as your own.

Being able to see Nichole Alred (pictured top) and Rachel Engler (picture bottom) after the movie made the experience that much more tangible. If you weren't crying in the audience, then you were most certainly choked up (anyone who says otherwise is lying). In their interview, a certain cinematic magic became apparent: that is really is quality over quantity. The whole film was shot on a low budget, but that didn't stop the real purpose of the film from being absolutely outstanding. 10/10 would recommend.

Beatriz at Dinner on the other hand was the story of a wholistic healer/massage therapist named Beatriz, played by Selma Hayek. After her car breaks down after finishing up a massage with her ultra-wealthy client, she is invited to stay for dinner. In the opening minutes, there are clear connections between Beatriz and nature, more specifically the ocean and water. The dinner, to avoid any spoilers, turns about as sideways as possible. The film's ending leaves the audience with a quick-to-judgement take as to what happens to Beatriz, but in the interview with Hayek after she brings the audience's attention to the fact that they may have misinterpreted the ending.

It is one of those films that when the credits start rolling you think to yourself, "what did I just watch". However, if you give yourself a chance to just stop and think about everything that happened in the movie, you begin to realize just how much of a cinematic, and artistic, masterpiece it truly is.