Paul Stainthorpe’s 16-minute drama Floppy Toast with Drippy Butter (co-written with Simon Jefferson), highlights bullying, abuse and suicide, its childlike title speaking to the young age and vulnerability of its teenaged protagonist, Chloe. At its heart though, the film is a reminder and guide towards hope, personified in supporting character Alice. Alice (Rhiannon Jones) comes across Chloe (Ellie Bindman) at her most vulnerable, staring over the bridge at the river below,… Continue reading Floppy Toast with Drippy Butter: The Unmatched Power of Human Connection
Tag: Drama
A Father’s Job: Highlighting The Psychological Horror Of The Holocaust
The sheer number of holocaust films speaks directly to the magnitude of the atrocity. The purposes have varied, from expression of deep rage, or wanting to honour the victims, or to heal wounds that have taken root. Frank Christian Wagner’s A Father’s Job honours a particular subset of victims, and in doing so, exposes just… Continue reading A Father’s Job: Highlighting The Psychological Horror Of The Holocaust
Cuello: A Slice Of Perilous Life
Sebastian Ortiz Wilkins’s Cuello, co-written with Moheb Jindran, witnesses a chain reaction that is set off with one man’s impulsive acts of empathy and mercy. There are no heroes painted here, yet the effects of those impulses ripple through the lives of many and for years. The story, based on true events, runs on three threads. Ricardo’s neat… Continue reading Cuello: A Slice Of Perilous Life
Fleeting Nirvana: Channels Of Calm In Turbulent Waters
Michael Phoenix’s Fleeting Nirvana takes a contrasting approach to its subject. Though it deals with mental illness and suicide, there is an odd, captivating calm to the film. The title alludes to a brief scene in the film, where Charlie (played by Phoenix) talks about what he terms as ‘blue hour’ with his partner Ally (Allison Pittel).… Continue reading Fleeting Nirvana: Channels Of Calm In Turbulent Waters
Forty Years From Now: The Perils (And Possible Perks) Of Indulging In Nostalgia
All romanticisms and cynicisms aside, what significance does the possibility of a do-over have? The former is usually drenched in unbearable saccharinity, and the latter thrives on nay-saying every grain of hope. But reality demands balance. Mundanity even, one could argue. So what does that in-between scenario look like? John Manna’s 19-minute Forty Years From Now offers… Continue reading Forty Years From Now: The Perils (And Possible Perks) Of Indulging In Nostalgia
Noose: Death And Tragedy Lend Themselves Well To Comedy
The title makes it obvious. Someone is trying to die. Keyword being trying. Because Paul wants to die, and the world is not making it easy. Nick LaMarca’s 18-minute comedy-drama, Noose, takes a laid back approach to a heavy subject, and it works surprisingly well. The film opens boldly. There is the noose at eye-level, and there is Paul, played… Continue reading Noose: Death And Tragedy Lend Themselves Well To Comedy
Next of Kin: A Taut Drama About Death And Identity
Next of Kin, Marissa Vonn’s 10-minute drama, has two things right off the bat that makes it so compelling: its protagonist, and the relationship they share with their colleague, the only other character in the plot. Helena, played by Jamie Morrow, keeps to herself for most of the workday at her newspaper office, typing obituaries… Continue reading Next of Kin: A Taut Drama About Death And Identity
Kingdom Animalia: The Melanie Fyfe Story: A Much-Needed Satire Reflecting On Contemporary Times
Kalainithan Kalaichelvan’s Kingdom Animalia: The Melanie Fyfe Story can be as easily misunderstood as cheered for. The film, a pure satirical story set in a fascinating world of humans and animals is a neither-here-nor-there fantasy, that is, however, a thorough visual treat. Appealing to the eye, but troubling to the soul, the film dissects the… Continue reading Kingdom Animalia: The Melanie Fyfe Story: A Much-Needed Satire Reflecting On Contemporary Times
Grizzly: An Explicit Critique Of Empty Tradition And Toxic Masculinity
Kill a grizzly to prove your strength. Kill a grizzly or die. Prove you are strong or die. Writer-director Aaron Van Maanen does not bother with subtlety for his 8-minute short, Grizzly and it serves the film exceedingly well. If it was not immediately apparent, the premise is about men. A grandfather drives his grandson to a… Continue reading Grizzly: An Explicit Critique Of Empty Tradition And Toxic Masculinity
Trick Shot: An All Or Nothing Shot That Ends The Game
Christopher Deans’s Trick Shot is a suspenseful, taut drama that also manages to weave the subtlest strains of humour into its narrative. Set on the eve of the Good Friday agreement, the story follows three men and a pool table. The men in question, rogue IRA volunteers, are not in favour of a ceasefire, and the table… Continue reading Trick Shot: An All Or Nothing Shot That Ends The Game