Gift of the Magi

Gift of the Magi

On the eve of Three Kings Day, a boy answers a forbidden phone call and begins to understand his place among family secrets. “Gift of the Magi,” directed by Casiano R. Hamer, is a 16mm portrait that weaves together a tapestry of family history, Biblical stories, painful absences, and the possibility of magic. Maceo is an Afro-Latina kid living in New York with his single mother. As she prepares food for the holiday, Maceo is under strict orders not to answer the telephone, which has been ringing off the hook. When his mother heads to a bodega for some last minute items, however, his curiosity gets the better of him and he’s greeted with an attempted reconciliation from a father figure. Punctuated by vivid images of a man in Wise Men garb emerging with gifts, Hamer’s film strikes a unique balance of surreal dreaminess and tender family drama. -KA. Writer, director: Casiano R. Hamer. Cast: Joshua Garcia, Catia Ramos, Kevin Bencosme. Narrator: Juana Fernandez-Hamer. Director of Photographer: Art Parnitudom. Editor: Valentina Hueck. Producer: Manya Glassman. Producer: Victor Pigasse. Assistant Director: Elizabeth Rao. Production Designer: Selena Liu. 1st AC: Phillip Shvartsman and Morgan Simonson. 2nd AC: Morgan Simonson. Gaffer: David Kramer and Austin Jessen. Grip: Luke Kaoning. Sound: CJ Bruce.

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Gift of the Magi
  • Gift of the Magi

    On the eve of Three Kings Day, a boy answers a forbidden phone call and begins to understand his place among family secrets. “Gift of the Magi,” directed by Casiano R. Hamer, is a 16mm portrait that weaves together a tapestry of family history, Biblical stories, painful absences, and the possibil...

Extras

  • Meet the Director: Casiano R. Hamer ("Gift of Magi")

    Casiano Roman Hamer is a writer/director based in New York City. He is currently pursuing an MFA in Film and TV at NYU. He is also a graduate of Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, New York with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Film and a minor in Creative Writing.

    He is originally from Chicago, IL and grew ...