directed by:
James Dubbeldam written by: James Dubbeldam, Nolwenn Garcia genre: Drama |
"Hey guys," – I'm back with another wild film to review for ya - and you'll get that once you've seen "I Am ______," which I highly recommend you watch. First off, we're talkin' super short film…like…somewhere around the five-minute mark – so no excuses; you've got the time. Secondly, if you want something genuinely thought-provoking and real, "I Am ______" will scratch that itch intensely. I was actually blown away by how much writer/director James Dubbeldam got me thinking within such a short timeframe. There's a lot to unpack here but lemme give it a try.
"I Am ______" is ultimately built on the contrast and concepts that rip through our social media feeds - and the difference between what is and isn't real information. It's also about how we react to the information we do get, where we choose to go for the source, and the black hole of anonymity that is the internet as we know it. It's also cleverly put together – you'll notice how things shift from "landscape" when we're in a more 'real' state of everything involved in this idea - and in "portrait" mode when our one star of the show is playing more for the camera. That one star, incidentally, is Nathalie Soto Cuzin, and she does an outstanding job as you move through many different scenes, which are arguably quite similar, but even that's done purposely as that's kind of what it's like to follow one of your favourite channels out there. "I Am ______" does a magnificent job of pointing out what's hollow, what's true, and what could be – and it does this by showing us three main stages of this young girl's life. Arguably, in the ending that James has created for this film, there's even a fourth stage in its finale that will show you how the cycle of what happens in the game of content creation continues. This whole thing gets intentionally dark - and serves somewhat as a warning in terms of how we receive the information we get and how it could harm us. I love that we see these different sides of Nathalie as she takes us through what's happening both in front of the camera and behind the scenes. We see the 'public' face that has something empowered to say with radiant confidence, and we see the shattered persona when the camera is off, struggling to cope with so many of the things that we can all relate to regarding image, activism, and self-worth. Life is not easy to navigate, and "I Am ______" reminds you that while it may appear your idols - and the accounts you follow have everything all figured out, there is quite likely a way different story that occurs behind the curtain. Which, of course, calls into question – why the f**k are we like this? Who wrote the rules of the internet that govern this kind of false behaviour and often misleading information? Why, when given the option of doing ANYTHING we want to with social media, do we do things for the Gram instead of taking such an incredible opportunity to create awareness, open dialogue, and conquer some very real things on a united front, just to toss that aside in pursuit of likes & follows? Listen. I tend to measure intentions better than most, and I let that dictate what I choose to highlight in just about everything I do in life. There's a bit of projection in "I Am ______," and a defined perspective that is built into this film as well – and that's coming from an angle that the internet is essentially a bit of a cesspool, which can be very, very true. I'd be the first to tell you that depends on where you choose to look and how you choose to use it – for example, if you're following ANY account that starts out every video they post with "hey guys," then you should probably unplug your computer and throw away your phone. Like all things we discover in the swell of information, it's still always on US as individuals to use critical thinking to understand what is actually real versus what we're being told.
So here's the rub – Dubbeldam certainly ain't wrong to point out what he's pointing out - because so much of "I Am ______" is based on real truth and the effects of social media – I'd readily concede that. Where I think an even larger conversation and debate occurs is in understanding that we, the people, as in all of YOU that take the time to do something in front of the camera - and aren't doing things for some kind of clout or monetization, are probably just trying to do the right thing and share your experience – and I applaud you for that. I think it's noble; I truly do. You're trying to use the internet the right way, and it's frustrating to see that a horde of plastic influencers continue to dominate the conversation, which is something that "I Am ______" kind of implies as we follow this young girl's story. Real voices can't be heard in this world, despite having the means to have them heard at our disposal – you follow? What makes this film even more interesting to me is that it clearly targets our responsibility and how we use the internet – but there's a much more sinister version of this that has always led the way - and bears a lot of responsibility for how we choose to use it. That's the news. Yep – the big ol' corporate conglomerate that has always broadcast news ACTORS, rather than giving you the factual information you deserve in mainstream media. I'm not tinfoil-hatting you here – I watch the news daily, but I also consider it my job to filter out the bias any particular channel displays, the grandiose reporting they present, and concentrate solely on the tiny kernels of information we get that deal with the actual story. Not everyone we know is able to do that, nor do they even realize how crucial that would truly be. But if you're asking me if I blame us as individuals for how poorly we use the internet to communicate, the answer is no – we're simply following a horrible example that's been set in the past without thinking. The internet can be a wonderful place if you know where to look. Media can be a great thing if you have a grip on what's important to pay attention to. Information at the source is purely a good thing. Greed, influence, power, and the false perception that we have some kind of sway on this planet is where you'll find human beings corrupted beyond repair, but we don't realize how fine the line we're walking is until after we've crossed it. I really enjoyed what Dubbeldam put together here and how "I Am ______" makes you think. I thought Nathalie was superb in showing us the horrors of this concept in a very real and personal way, and I felt like the way that it's shot and delivered to us was a perfect fit for the story. I could write an essay on this short film without a doubt – and I practically have already, considering it'll take you longer to read this review of "I Am ______" than it'll take to actually watch it. Quality work all-around here – I've got no problem handing out a well-earned four stars out of five to "I Am ______" based on the strength of what Cuzin brings to her character and range of emotions - and the powerfully thought-provoking concept at the core of it all, written by Dubbeldam and Nolwenn Garcia. |
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