Oscar Nominated Short Live Films from US, UK, Switzerland, Poland and Denmark

The five, live Oscar Nominated Short Films are all serious subject matters.  The US' submission concerns mass incarceration, lack of human interaction and oppressive limitations.  "Please Hold" utilized a sense of wry wit and humorous frustration embedding the film's political message without droning on about it.  The picture was a pastiche of the technological intrusiveness of "Her" with a sinister messaging.  From the 5 films, "Please Hold"'s social commentary was delivered with originality and credibility.  "The Long Good Bye" from the UK was horrific in its gruesome depiction of persecution and executions of an Indian family living in England.  The killings were carried out by police in the light of day, with an onlooking neighborhood.  None of the neighbors intervened.   Who would blame them?  The inference was clear the police killings and abductions were sanctioned.  The award winning British actor/rapper. Riz Ahmed, stars in this film.  His rapping delivered posthumously is potent but preachy.  Poland's short film "The Dress" gets my Oscar vote.  This poignant picture is of a lonely women, Julia.  Julia works arduously as a hotel housekeeper.  She's a hard drinking, chain smoker with a penchant for the slot machines.  Julia is aware of the stares and hostile remarks she receives for her short stature.  Julia has the genetic-mutation known as dwarfism.  The beautifully shot film in an icy blue color palette with dark shadows enhance Julia's feeling of ostracism.  Her longtime co-worker is her one confidant.  Julia shares her deep melancholy and longing "to be a real woman" with her friend from work.  This short film delivers a huge emotional swing that punches hard in the gut as she is brutally, sexually abused.  Still, it's the quiet longing we sense in the last scene which lingers longer.  "The Dress" should win, but what will probably win is Switzerland's submittal, "Take and Run".  "Take and Run" deals with the serious plight of women forced into marriages without recourse.  The sect appears to be a small tight-knot order in Mongolia. The film broaches the limited running time of less than 40 minutes to qualify.  "Take and Run" will probably take home the gold but the impact of "The Dress" remains.