Sultan Ali’s The ‘Other’ Talk is a short 4-minute film that cleverly tells half its story and leaves the rest abundantly clear. Centred on a daughter who wants to do the right thing, and a father who wants her to do the safe thing, the film is just as minimalist in its production as it… Continue reading The ‘Other’ Talk: A Choice Between The Safe Thing And The Right Thing
Tag: Drama Short Film Review
AAgnostic: A Suspension Between Religion And Furious Doubt
Daniel James Dismuke’s AAgnostic deliberates on questions of good, evil and religion through the story of a woman’s crippling guilt in the wake of a tragedy. Over the 17-minute runtime, she discovers truths which bring as much clarity as they do deeper confusion and guilt. Grace (Megan Elizabeth Barker) is a struggling alcoholic sitting through… Continue reading AAgnostic: A Suspension Between Religion And Furious Doubt
Outcry: Gains, Losses, And All We (Don’t) Expect From Them
P.M. Lipscomb’s Outcry constructs a drama of grief that twists itself into a gnarly, bittersweet thing. At its centre is Neil, a man whose world has been leached of meaning since the death of his wife. Orbiting him are a sibling duo whose lives could change in the best or worst ways. As the film… Continue reading Outcry: Gains, Losses, And All We (Don’t) Expect From Them
The Gossip: The How-To Of Breaking A Friend’s Heart
Rolfin Nyhus’ The Gossip splits its time between the two parties involved in such a premise: the offender and the victim. Two best friends now at a precarious crossroads, the film is blunt in tracing their journey to this point. Kirsty’s (Eleanor Shaw) life is in shambles. A bad boyfriend (Dave Binder) and a drug… Continue reading The Gossip: The How-To Of Breaking A Friend’s Heart
Gold: A Spot Of Shining Optimism
Charles Solomon’s Gold takes place at a time in Nigeria’s history marked by political violence. The story of a family set against this larger political climate creates a microcosm with which to understand the lives of the common people affected by things that appear beyond their control. Though the film opens with a humiliating event,… Continue reading Gold: A Spot Of Shining Optimism
Last Lesson: Homophobia And The Slivers of Hope Despite It
Badar’s 10-minute Last Lesson takes on a homophobic parent and her instant prejudice against the piano teacher once the latter’s sexuality is revealed. Marked by painfully unyielding homophobia, the film showcases the experience of pushing against walls that do not budge. The film opens with Olivia (Lisa Finlayson) finding out. A neighbour (Michelle M. Tucker)… Continue reading Last Lesson: Homophobia And The Slivers of Hope Despite It
Withdrawal: An Account Of Addiction And The Way Out
Jacob Harding’s 25-minute drama Withdrawal is exactly what its name implies. A man with a multitude of personality issues battles with his addiction. On the line are his own life, his long-term relationship, and even his self-worth. A derivative of Fight Club, the film attempts to draw on some of that grimness to stage its… Continue reading Withdrawal: An Account Of Addiction And The Way Out
Left Behind: On The Isolation During And After Abuse
Through Left Behind Matthew R. Ford details and explores the aftermath of relationship abuse and all the ways it leaches the humanity out of its victims and survivors. Indeed, the difference between victimhood and survivorship is also put under scrutiny. Two women populate the world of Left Behind; Melissa (Grace Farrell) and Kat (Savannah Gallo).… Continue reading Left Behind: On The Isolation During And After Abuse
Two Knights: Faith, Bitterness And Love Over Millennia
Piotr Szkopiak’s Two Knights is a dark-toned story of anger, questioning righteousness, morality, and the bounds of religion and duty. At its centre are Lucifer and Archangel Michael, whom Lucifer has invited for a game of chess. The writing credits are shared between Reece J. Morant, Adrian Darko and Tommaso Genovesi. The two characters may… Continue reading Two Knights: Faith, Bitterness And Love Over Millennia
An Island Drifts: Impossible Guilt And Relentless Isolation In Gut-Wrenching Drama
Vivian Ip’s An Island Drifts has its characters faced with irreconcilably large consequences to their actions. The characters, a little boy and a young teacher, find themselves stuck torturously in their newfound circumstances. Sometimes, these binds culminate into bloodied bids for release. This is one of those stories where a domino effect occurs and its… Continue reading An Island Drifts: Impossible Guilt And Relentless Isolation In Gut-Wrenching Drama