point of contact

DOSSIER 2006
The official online publication of the
Syracuse International Film Festival, Vol.3
A Point of Contact Production

The Wishing Well, USA
Film Review by Beverly Allen

A plump Western lady indulges in ecstasies of projection as she tosses coin after coin into an elaborate wishing well somewhere in China, or Chinatown. Wishing repeatedly for love to enter her life, she gazes wistfully at potential mates of varied orientations and ages, swallowing her disappointment when they turn out to belong to others. As her clinking little offerings fall far from their marks only to be gobbled up by nasty mini-robo turtles, she seems to accept that Prince Charming will pass her by, until he appears with all the surprise of an accident.

Should you be as gullible as I, you will fail to realize until the final credits roll that the extremely clever director, Rod Maxwell, plays every single role in this extremely cleverly animated short film. And getting it will come with all the surprise of an accident.

Nominated for Best of Fest.