Tag: Short Film Reviews

A theatrically designed silent film about people’s need for autonomy – something that is so primarily human – goes, well, not quite right. Director Elizabeth Soto-Lara’s ‘Alba’ portrays the eponymous heroine as a marionette, controlled by her family, who wants her to stick to the path of award-winning baking. Award-winning though it may be, Alba (played… Continue reading Alba: What Cutting Off Toxic Ties Could Have Looked Like

Niu Mengchen’s Besieged is a short film that deals with a sensitive topic in a very mature way. The film manages to fit in a complex story in 24 minutes while creating an absorbing drama that is worth watching many times over. It takes the concept of sibling rivalry and jealousy and turns it into… Continue reading ‘Besieged’: A Complex Narrative, Enthralling Music & Striking Performances

Automation, coupled with the advancing of innovation and technology is sure to wean people off the service industry. While it’s a prospect many are looking forward to, is it all as rosy as it seems? Sure, Artificial Intelligence (AI) has its own perks. But, haven’t we already come far ahead wherein the pitfalls seem to… Continue reading Number 13 Warns You Of The Likely Winner In Man Vs Machine!

Whatever be the reason, split personality disorder (or more appropriately, dissociative identity disorder) has found its place almost solely in crime dramas. Another addition to that long list of films is Ernesto Sandoval’s ‘The Voice Within’, an 11-minute short that follows the trials and tribulations of Catherine (her main alter being Angelina). Catherine (Laurie Henderson,… Continue reading ‘The Voice Within’: Good On The Technical Front, Weak On The Story

Jaime Herrera Jr’s ‘The Baby Farmer’ is a bewildering 15-minute short. A dishevelled, barefoot, bruised woman contends with her captor who holds her mentally hostage, as well as her own gigantic worm-like baby who drinks her blood. From the little backstory we are granted, Jennifer is presumably a teacher, has two human boys, and an… Continue reading ‘The Baby Farmer’: Not Outright Horror, But Creepy Enough to Hold Attention

A story that offers the audience a glimpse into the lessons of growing up for two brothers, writer-director Brady Morell’s shot at writing a heartfelt letter to brotherhood, ‘Retrieval’ aims to be more than that.  When his younger brother loses his jacket to a bully, their mother (Ashley A. Williams) sends Anthony (himself no more… Continue reading ‘Retrieval’: A Deftly Constructed Drama That Is As Suspenseful As It Is Affecting

There is plenty of scope for humour in a marriage. With every century and decade, as with everything, the dynamics between spouses evolve and fresh fodder for humour emerges. Michael Wells’ ‘The Card’, a comedy centred around a marriage, belongs firmly in the already cringy aughts. Phil Whitfield (Steve Oreste) finds a certain business card… Continue reading ‘The Card’ Is Best Suited To Those Looking For A Waft Of The 2000s

Nina Madzirov’s ‘Glass’ is a beautiful and heartbreaking film that shows how people cope with the pain of losing a loved one. All of us have lost someone important to us at one point or another in our lives and it really helps us connect with what the protagonist Mia (also portrayed by Nina Madzirov)… Continue reading ‘Glass’ Is A Heartfelt Film That Deals With The Pain Of Loss.

What happens when the person you looked up to all your childhood passes away and in spite of your best efforts, you never get to say goodbye? Based on his personal experiences, writer-director Ritesh Matlani creates a drama about coming to terms with grief. Dipu, (played by Akhlaque Khan) comes home days after his nana,… Continue reading ‘Nana’: Wise People Teach Lessons Even In Their Death