Kavi

Wow. Just finished watching this little gem. Worth every penny. I'm not usually a fan of subtitles, but I was totally engrossed from the start and was on the edge of my seat the whole time. Get it now!

This is a stunningly beautiful film. The color, score, tempo, characters and setting build to a visual symphony that demands relentless courage from its viewers. It is simultaneously heart-wrenching and innocent. Buy it now. You'll be glad that you did...

I thought for sure this was going to get the Oscar. I think someone ought to help The Academy out with what the best short was, geez.

Kavi shines as an intimate and simple portrait of a boy who experiences denigration and humiliation, yet is filled with courage and hope for a better life. The characters may be fictitious but they represent real people who endure real suffering daily. Gregg Helvey's first film is a work of "message art" that invites you to care and feel for those who suffer, elevating the dignity of humanity. Absolutely worthy of the Oscar it was nominated for--this is a must see!

There's no condescension in this producers take on the plight of fellow human beings enduring brutal 21st century slavery. Helvey's eye does not blink before the abject conditions his hero faces, nor does his respect ever falter. This refreshing integrity shows on the screen. Congratulations for awards at the Student Oscars, USC's First Look, Aspen, the Angelus Student Film Festival, and much more! I highly recommend Kavi.

I have watched this movie several times and love it more and more each time! The message is powerful, you find yourself on the edge of your sear wondering what will happen to Kavi in various situations. The story moves you and makes you want more. Beautifully shares the slavery that still is happening right now. Well done Greg Helvey! This was a sure winner for the Oscars, to bad it wasn't selected. Great that it was nominated though and it is winning every other award imaginable. We look forward to seeing more from this very talented director!

Kavi is an unflinching look at modern slavery. Helvey's deft direction firmly establishes the characters and the pathos of their struggle against the tyranny of human bondage. Compelling and cathartic. It was robbed at the Academy Awards but continues to garner deserved praise around the world.

Most people don't get the chance to see a film this moving, informative and important when it is in a short format, what a gift that it's as easy as downloading it on iTunes. Simply put, this is one of the best short films I've ever seen. Its artfully shot, a well told story, and it has a message that hopefully can bring about social change. Definitely worth it!

This film is quite remarkable. While filmmaker Gregg Helvey makes no bones about it having an overt message about ending slavery, the film does not reflect the usual preachiness one will find in a "message movie." Instead, we find a beautifully shot character piece. While watching, we never forget that this is a film that is first and foremost about Kavi himself, and his emotional journey. The film features subtle acting and an ending that is hopeful yet uncertain, reflecting reality in a way that I wasn't expecting. While the immorality of the slavery issue should be obvious to everybody, the specifics of Kavi's situation are more complex. The film took me by surprise. I was expecting a half-baked, overly-sincere melodrama, but what I got was a nuanced, gritty drama in the tradition of the Italian Neo-realists. I highly recommend the film.

Kavi is an incredible film. Thank you to Gregg Helvey and others for spreading the word about modern day slavery.