Rhyme & Reason: BBC Introducing Arts (2019)

Bien parecidas

María allows Cecilia to dye her hair while they wait for Agustín's rehabilitation therapy to finish. This simple fact will change the way mother and daughter perceive their relationship and help them cope with the difficult time they are experiencing.

We Are Fine

A boy makes a discovery at the seaside.

The Mirror/Mirror The

A socially awkward teen gets caught between a changing friendship and a life-altering discovery.

Sadhbh

Young mother Claire struggles to keep her life together while attempting to present a mask of strength against the judgement of the outside world. But she hides a heartbreaking secret, and sometimes accepting the truth is not an option.

Talking To My Mother

A young Asian American man struggles for both personal happiness and the love of his mother.

Bathed in Light

Two teenage couples are spending a weekend together in a house by the sea. When new feelings develop, the dynamic quickly changes.

All the Crows in the World

18-year-old Shengnan is invited to a mysterious party by her cousin. Upon arrival, Shengnan finds herself surrounded by greasy middle-aged men, with the exception of Jianguo, who is different. Shengnan and Jianguo decide to bail on the party, embarking on a night of adventures in the adult world.

Cicada

Chang-hyeon, a transgender prostitute encounters a visitor who seems both familiar and alienated to him.

The First Emperor of China

This historical drama tells the story of Qin Shihuang, who unified China's vast territory and declared himself emperor in 221 B.C. During his reign, he introduced sweeping reforms, built a vast network of roads and connected the Great Wall of China. From the grandiose inner sanctum of Emperor Qin's royal palace, to fierce battles with feudal kings, this film re-creates the glory and the terror of the Qin Dynasty, including footage of Qin's life-sized terra cotta army, constructed 2,200 years ago for his tomb.

Malaisant

Esther, a highly anxious 23-year-old, has accepted a second date with Romeo, her colleague at the Temple de la Gaufre.

Steam is Steam

Montreal 1952, teenager Samuel brings his friend Julien to the neighbourhood steam bath for his weekly routine with Dad. Julien’s first time will be a day to remember.

Holy the Sabbath

A chilling portrait of loss and redemption when men create their own gods.

Leave

Billy the Marine's last day home before going back to Iraq. Realizing he may never come back, he tries to make amends with various people in his life. For Billy, the real battle may be on the home front rather than the front lines. LEAVE is an entirely improvised drama that was shot over the course of one day in Arlington, Texas, using both actors and non actors, both family and friends of the director, all from a one page outline. The story ultimately describes the different ways people express their love to one another, and how these ways of communicating love are sometimes lost.

Lions' Den

A group of old friends are hanging at one of their houses exchanging stories of sexual escapades, awaiting another friend to arrive so they can celebrate a birthday at a nude bar. When one of them is suddenly accused of having masturbated in his friend's bathroom, what starts as a McCarthy-era trial of accusations at one individual suddenly escalates into a night of judgment that tests the truth of their words and the strength of all their friendships. LIONS' DEN is an entirely improvised drama using both actors and non actors shot over the course of an evening, based from a loose outline. It ultimately is a probing of the way men behave with one another. It also emphasizes the way people point the finger at others to hide their own sins and actions. A melting pot of lies, truths, egos, and masculinity that is stirred with documentary-style filmmaking.

The Bathtub

Ramon Riera is taking a well-deserved bath when his cell phone suddenly rings. On the other side of the line is Clara, a girl who insistently tries to sell him a life insurance.

The Rooftop

High schooler You Cheng fumbles a hookup with Wen Ting, making him panic. To solve this issue, he spies on others, but Jing Hao’s nude shocks him.

Barely in Love

When a new troupe leader joins the 'Bnai Akiva' boy scouts movement, Yotam's world trembles. He is forced to cope with his sexual orientation and the difficulties he faces with family and religion, and is torn between his love of religion that forbids homosexuality and his mother who tries to 'cure' him.

The Water Diary

A story through a child's eyes about living through a drought.

Unicorn

A young German/Bolivian Mennonite risks his life to escape his strict religious community to find love and freedom in the city.

Wanks

Two friends decide to have a wank remembering old times.

Zack & Luc

A split-screen film telling two versions of the entire story of a relationship. Each memory becomes intertwined with all the others: the firsts, the lasts, the middles, each of the small nothing moments that add up to something in the end.

Adam

This short film centers around a high school student whose declaration of love to another boy leads to hostile reactions from his classmates.

Ascenso

Plot unavailable

En passant

Andor is a young chess player, who even calls his pet turtle Kasparov. “Do you think I will succeed? - the boy asks her before the decisive tournament. "If I win, he will never come back." Who is Andor talking about and why is he either afraid of this return, or wants it?

I Decided to Leave

A man decides to leave. He knows he wants to do something with his life. He just hasn't figured out what yet.

Custom Order

After a painful breakup, Aaron purchases a life-size doll to serve as a replacement for the companionship he has lost.

100 Apples

A Taiwanese art student seeks to understand his sexuality while coping with the imminent departure of a man who is his both his teacher and close friend.

Somniphobia

A doctor with the ability to visit people's dreams helps a young woman confront the terrifying reality of her nightmare

Frogs

It’s dripping through the ceiling, the space for sleeping is scarce. Under poor living conditions, a young mother handles everyday life with her two daughters in the Brazilian suburb as best she can. When they unexpectedly acquire a load of frog legs, this gives rise to a celebration that will not soon be forgotten.

Invincible Summer

Sixteen-year-old Clément spends a hot summer evening home alone by the pool. Determined to lose his virginity, he swipes through guys’ profiles on Grindr.

Missy’s Tale

Film highlighting the impact flooding can have on homes and families, from the perspective of Missy the cat

Perfect Roast Potatoes

William comes to Los Angeles to celebrate Christmas only to find his mother has died, but his sister insists they still have Christmas dinner, corpse and all.

Consent

After meeting online, a woman allows a virtual stranger into her home to fulfill an agreement.

An Urban Allegory

A ballet dancer is late for an audition for a show inspired by Plato's Allegory of the Cave. She arrives with her seven-year-old son, Jay, and begs the director to give her a chance.

Erica

Erica has a secret relationship to the married Sebastian. When his wife Liv finds out, she decides to confront Erica over an evening of gin and tonics. Erica is soon being pushed to question what things in life are worth fighting for.

And So We Put Goldfish in the Pool.

One summer day, 400 goldfish were found in the swimming pool of a secondary school. This is a story about the four 15-year-old girls who put them there.

The Dam

A lifelong friendship is under siege when two mature Australian men visit the monolithic dam that defined their young lives and are confronted by feelings that were impounded long ago, but cannot be contained any longer.

Aujourd'hui ou je meurs

After a month of texting, Zoe has organized a perfect first date with Marc. Their expectations will be tested by reality.

Into the Night

A yuppie seeks help from two townspeople in finding his wife and daughter, during a blizzard storm. Based on the short story by Stephen King.

Pool Blue

Pool Blue is an attempt which tells, without dialogue nor rationality, a connection fantasized between two men. It is the fantastical projection which reveals certain eroticism. Pointless and discreet, the desire is present, two men are careful, gauge to the point to create a link of seduction. This link is intelligently staged, it is invisible with the eyes of the other swimmers, mysterious for both men and very explicit for the spectator.

Old Man

A man in his 30s visits a Soviet school to try to hook up with a young teacher there, and meets one of her students, whom he enlists to help introduce him to his romantic interest. While he waits for the student to free up, he observes the absurd Soviet culture, most evident within the school system, especially among the younger children.

Jamie's Secret

PAUL RUDD'S FIRST ROLE! A teenager who was sexually abused by his father. Faced with his conflicting emotions, Jamie finally learns to overcome the most difficult part of his ordeal: feeling "alone ... trapped inside this nightmare." With the advice of caring adults and, most importantly, a friend of his age, Jamie finds the strength to make the most difficult decision, that of facing his father in the courtroom.