The Smell of Burning Ants

THE SMELL OF BURNING ANTS is a haunting documentary on the pains of growing up male. It explores the inner and outer cruelties that boys perpetrate and endure. The film provokes the viewer to reflect on how our society can deprive boys of wholeness.
Through formative events of a boy’s life, we come to understand the ways in which men can become emotionally disconnected and alienated from their feminine side. The common dismissal that “boys will be boys” evolves into the chilling realization that boys frequently become angry, destructive and emotionally disabled men. THE SMELL OF BURNING ANTS illustrates how boys are socialized by fear, power and shame. The film is a catalyst for discussion and an opportunity to begin the process of healing the wounds of childhood.

Trailer

Details

Country of Production
USA

Year of Production
1994

Format
16mm, Beta SP Pal, Beta SP NTSC

Length
21 min

Director
Jay Rosenblatt

Production
Locomation Films

Original Language
English

Festivals / Awards

Sundance
London FF
Hong Kong FF
Viennale
Sao Paulo International Short FH
Hamburg FF (Grand Prize)
Ann Arbor FF (Best of Festival)
Humboldt FF (Best of Festival)
Locarno IFF(First Prize, Short Films)
Athens International Film and Video Festival (First Place)
Charlotte FF (Best of the Best)
Melbourne IFF (Best Experimental Film)
Sinking Creek FF (Best Experimental Film)
Big Muddy FF (Best Experimental Film)
Tampere Short FF (Best Documentary)
Florida FF (Artistic Courage Award)
Onion City FF (Audience Choice Award)
Onion City FF (Doug Haynes Memorial Award)
Central Florida FF (Second Place, Experimental Film)
New York Film Expo(Bronze Award)
Vila do Conde Shorts FF (Honorable Mention)
San Francisco International FF (Honorable Mention)
Atlanta Film and Video Festival (Honorable Mention)
DOK Leipzig 2017