Karla's World

I am a judge for the Indianapolis-based Heartland Film Festival. This feature film is a Crystal Heart Award Winner and is eligible to be the Grand Prize Winner in October of 2008. The Heartland Film Festival is a non-profit that honors Truly Moving Pictures. A Truly Moving Picture "…explores the human journey by artistically expressing hope and respect for the positive values of life."

Karla is a 10 year-old Danish girl that faces an all too common problem around Christmas-time. She wants to have a traditional, old-fashioned holiday season, but is part of an extended family. She has a father with a drinking problem who lives alone. She lives with her Mother and Stepfather and brother and step-brother. The logistics are hard and everybody is so busy.

She finally concludes, "…grown-ups don't care about Christmas." And this will be "… (her) worst Christmas ever."

Karla finds a respite with an eccentric older man called Buster. It's hard to tell whether Karla is watching over Buster or Buster is watching over Karla. But at least they have each other.

Karla's despair and quest for holiday joy might make her family re-examine their lives … or maybe it won't. Karla has a lot to teach all of us if we will only stop being busy and listen and watch.

FYI – There is a Truly Moving Pictures web site where there is a listing of past Truly Moving Picture Award winners that are now either at the theater or available on video.