***** (Five stars)
The five short films in this series spotlight powerful landscapes, in order to tell five completely different international stories. These vignettes range from 30 seconds to about 15 minutes, and although this leaves no time for plot or character development, the filmmakers manage to give a strong sense of place by showing the physical setting and deftly incorporating music and narrative voiceovers. Some of these shorts are personal stories, some illustrate global issues, but they all demonstrate the effects of human inhabitance on the locations in question. I found this collection moving and at times eye-opening. All were very artfully filmed and, as a sampling of abstract, avant-garde works, hung together well as a whole.—Roxana Marroquin, associate photo editor
[This is a TONY staff review, written for the 2008 Tribeca Film Festival. It is not considered an official review and should not be read as such. Please think of it as a casual impression from a movie-loving friend.]