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STEVE coming for tea
Steve coming for tea is an urban drama written and shot in 2010 by the first-time director, actor Rupert Friend, as one of the short movies filmed for the Stars in Shorts series. Built over a simply perfect Colin Firth's acting, as Steve, and carried out inside an apartment block in London, the story portrays human neediness in modern society.
A young couple –brightly played by Keira Knightley and Tom Mison- begin to receive daily visits from their downstairs neighbour, Steve, in their own loft apartment. Throughout several days, this odd and bewildering man draws attention to various house problems he is suffering. However, not until the film is ending will the audience glimpse what is really at the bottom of his mind.
The result of Friend´s work is quite balanced and compact. Music goes expressively with visual effects and the screenplay has some memorable dialogues, sprinkled with subtle drops of sharp humour. Nevertheless, all these features are absolutely dimmed by Colin Firth´s performance. In spite of the extremely complex character to perform, the undoubtedly best current example of the British acting School builds a totally believable acting. Plenty of intensity and rising dramatic tension along the sixteen minute length.
Steve coming for tea is an overwhelming and thought-provoking film for adults. Especially suitable to see together with your flatmate, on a dull Sunday evening, while you wonder who could be living less than three meters below your feet.
IDENTITY, a short film directed by KJ Adames and starring Ruthy Cepeda, is an inspirational and thought-provoking drama about a young girl in a high school who struggles to look for her own identity.
The plot of the movie is not predictable, nor is it simple. A mysterious girl appears wearing a mask at a high school where everybody is also wearing it. But her mask is totally different from the others since she seems to be isolated and ignored by the rest. As the girl walks along the corridors, she notices people are classified in groups depending on the mask. Is it due to their lack of self-identity?
The beginning of the movie intrigues the audience as the opening line is avoice over saying , ´Today I have found the truth and you immediately wonder what this truth may be. Identity also gives viewers a parallelism between Plato´s allegory of the cave and people wearing masks. In a classroom the girl pays attention to the teacher who is talking about prisoners chained in a cave unable to turn their heads. The only thing
prisoners can see are shadows on the wall of the cave. But one day a prisoner is released and discovers a new world beyond the cave.
Overall, Identity is a haunting movie. Not only will you wonder about how society defines your identity, but you will realize that the truth is inside you. For all lovers of sociology and especially for young people, this short film is well worth a few minutes of our time.
THE GUNFIGHTER
Directed by Erik Kissack and starring by Shawn Parsons, Scott Beehner, Brace Harris and Eileen O'Connell, this short film produced in the year 2014 is a remake of the famous spaghetti westerns made in Italy and Spain in the sixties.
The film looks like a western, the light, the ambience, the characters and the music, very important in this type of movies, are like most of the westerns.
The title leads us to think that the principal character is a gunman who is coming into a typical western saloon.
Not sooner has the film started, than we realize that something strange is happening. A voice-over is apparently presenting the action, as usually happen in other short films. But not only we can hear this voice, the gunman is bewildered, because he can also hear how this voice is saying what he does, and the rest of the characters are hearing the same and also what they are thinking.
How could we react if all people knew every single thing we are thinking? The narrator knows everything that everyone has done or is thinking. His hilarious comments about each personage, concerning to their sexual behavior and hidden relationships seem intended to drive them to an unexpected ballet of death.
Another aspect to highlight is its splendid photography by Jon Aguirresarobe, who is starting his career on his father's steps, the well-known photographer Javier Aguirresarobe.
Awarded at some prestigious short film's festivals, The Gunfighter is a comedy in a western ambience, well played and good for adult audiences.
OUT OF BOUNDS
“Out of bounds” directed by Adrian Wath in collaboration with other students of Bath Spa University, is a touching animation film about the inner world of a young man who suffers from several phobias, especially agoraphobia.
The main character is a kind-hearted youngster terrified of the outside world and social contact. He leads an isolated life of strict orderly routine of odd habits inside his gloomy house, although it´s surrounded by a beautiful neighbourhood. His only occupation in life is to keep safe his successive fish friends, which are always named the same: Paul. As soon as his pet dies, it is replaced another. Today, the boy has just welcomed his new only friend, Paul 179th. Feeding it, he realizes that there isn´t any fish food left, and what worse, the delivered fish food, that he had ordered, has been mistakenly sent to his nice neighbour across de road, Sophie. Not only does he have to leave his safe house, but he also has to get over his terrifying panic and phobias to take the packet. Otherwise, Paul will die !!! Will he able to do it?
The music of the short plays an important role to make us understand how his especial brain works. When the young man feels safe, the music is relaxing and happy, but when things are wrong for him, music changes to an anguished buzz, upsetting tweets, barking and even threatening creaks.
You should definitely see it. It is a charming and moving animation film that helps us to get a glimpse of what mental illnesses are really like in an affectionate and imaginative way.
REFLECTIONS
Reflections, a short film directed by Adam Randall, written by Anthony Kharenia and starring Chloe Pirrie and Edward Akrout, is an imaginative science fiction thriller about a couple trying to leave the café where they have had a romantic meal, perhaps the last one.
The plot of the movie is a surrealist and fantastic tale of a couple in a café trying to leave and, finding that the door is closed, deciding to search for another exit. Finally, they open a door to an empty, dirty and absolutely dark basement with a big mirror standing in the middle, which reflects their own projections. How do they solve the problem? Does the mirror show their true reflection? And most unbelievable and intriguing, do you believe in parallel universes?
It is a thought-provoking and gripping movie that raise many interesting questions, for instance, that of the existence of parallel universes, the results of taking wrong decisions in life, and probably the feelings caused by being trapped in a vicious circle.
The suffocating atmosphere of the short is created with darkness and silence. As soon as the couple change their situation with regards to the mirror the music sounds and becomes intense and louder, creating a quite frightening reaction in the viewers.
Only when you see the end of the short will you feel it is not finished and you will probably want to see it carefully again, trying to find more small signs that you may not have noticed at first. For all lovers of fantastic and thriller movies, Reflections can trap you in a never ending story.
PASSING
“Passing”, a drama short film directed in 2007 by young director Jolie Hales and starring Todd Michael Thompson and Jerry Ellison, is a motivational story about an elderly man who sees something unexpected that will change his mind. Shot in Utah, it is set in a ordinary American town and tell us a touching story that anybody may
experience.
The film begins inside a flower shop where the old man is buying a present for his wife on their anniversary. He decides to purchase a small vase with small purple flowers as
other goods in the shop are too expensive. However, he sees another customer - a very cute blond young man who looks like delighted in the harmonious atmosphere of
the shop – that is buying a big bunch of roses, a card and a balloon in which you can read “I love you”. The young guy pays first and leaves the shop. Anyway, the old man is sure that, by passing the years, the guy will not be so sensitive. But, in his path to home, an unlooked-for view will show him how fortunate he is.
Although rather predictable, what is brilliant is both acting and music that go with each scene making up twirls of feelings. Sentiments are expressed in a very few words,
which is quite thought-provoking like the scene in which the old man mumbles “just wait thirty years, dear”.
I strongly recommend this short as it is an inspirational story in which almost any adult sympathize with. No sooner have you watched the film than you will change your own view of life.
IMAGINE
Imagine is a poignant drama short film directed by Carl Mason, a 17-year-old filmmaker. The original script, written by John F. MacDonald, a multi-award winning screenwriter, has counted with the professional supervision from NP-C charity Hope for Hollie, Niemann Pick UK, INPDA and Great Ormond Street Hospital which provides the narration with a clear touch of reality. The movie is starred by novice actors, which allows us to focus on the work itself.
Set in a middle class family, Imagine tells us the story of a young girl, Millie, who is diagnosed with Niemann Pick Type C, an incurable disease which causes neurological decline and dementia. As it is a non-common disease, there are not enough resources or investments to fight it, which presents the parents a desolate prospect.
The gripping movie shows Millie as an innocent schoolgirl, whose biggest dream is being a dancer, probably unaware of her unavoidable destiny, and invites us to accompany Millie and her parents along the devastating process.
The way the story is presented to the audience through the girl’s eyes, makes it absolutely impossible not to feel moved. The mix of hopelessness and desire to live makes you get a knot in your stomach from the first minute.
This is a thoughtful film for those who seek not only entertainment but also value reality and courage. I strongly recommend this film because, far from being depressing, it gives you the opportunity to change your mind about life.
POST IT
A few days ago I saw “Post It” by Michael Evans. It is a short film about what happens when a guy is addressed by an unknown girl. Set in the present day, their relationship begins at a bus stop where both would never dream about how the day would end.
Clara (Deana Deatherage) is waiting for the bus while reading a book. She is an extremely curious and talkative woman, which makes her start a conversation with the newcomer Elroy (Michael Evans), to the bus stop. Meanwhile, He is an introverted and a little serious man who has to take care of a box. Surprisingly, the fate will make them enjoy together the rest of the afternoon. During their first meeting, Elroy got into an awkward situation related with his box. Nevertheless, all his anxiety seems to drift away because of her.
One of the strengths of this short-film is how it shows the simplicity of having a nice day. Despite having a predictable argument, the chemistry between Clara and Elroy captivates the viewer and makes them feel nostalgic.
Not only is this a story about friendship, but it also deals with people´s reaction when a stranger starts talking to them. If you’re looking for a delightful short film, this is undoubtedly the movie for you.
ROOM 8
This British and Polish short film, written and directed by James W. Griffith, and starring by Tom Cullen and Michael Gould, is a mixture of drama and fantasy which takes place in a sordid Russian prison. Room 8 was awarded the BAFTA award (British Academy of Film and Television Arts) for best short film three years ago.
In the story, a prisoner is led to his new cell, room 8. There he meets a mysterious inmate. He finds a strange red box. He asks about it, and he is quickly warned: “Don’t open it!”.
The film shows a dehumanized world. This dramatic short, scarcely eight minutes, leaves you completely overwhelmed. Does it want to show an allegory about how prisoners are reduced to insignificant persons? Is it a criticism toward the prison system? Is it a consideration to make us think whether we had acted in the same way? Would we have stumbled over the same stone if we had been in the same situation? Perhaps. There is no answer for these questions, maybe the director is only trying to entertain.
Never have I watched such a shocking short. Thinking of it, I can state it is a masterpiece, an astonishing film, as awesome and memorable as any I have seen. All in all, it is therefore worth spending a while watching it.
SOAR
Soar is a delightful 3D animated short directed by Alyze Tzue. This short is the result of a team of one hundred students and professionals. It was made in San Francisco and produced by Anson Yu and it is the winner of remarkable awards in its category.
Mara is a young girl. She’s making an apparently perfect miniature of an airscrew plane. But when she attempts to fly it, the plane crashes. Suddenly, a small travel bag kicks her head, and a few seconds before a tiny plane, ship shaped, crashes against a tree. Astonishingly, a minute boy, dressed like Dickens’ characters, goes out of the plane. She looks at him and following his gaze, finds a fleet of planes moving away. She understands he needs her help desperately.
Using brilliant colours, the design of the landscape, the children and the small planes are breathtaking. The sunset in progress during the film is amazing and truly realistic. Mara looks like an old-fashioned aviator: her tartan, ear-flaped bonet, the small plane stitched in her jumper... In contrast, she takes a photo of the minute man with a modern “i-pear”.
Not only the plot is great, but the realization work is amazing. The movement of the girl’s hair, the brightness of their skins, and the meticulous texture of the cloths, the wood or the stones are incredible. The delicate music (flutes, piano, oboe, horns…) works as a perfect framework.
Everything in the movie is cute and moving. Mara will help the little boy and he will show his gratitude to her in a very special way. Perfect story for children and parents!
ELLIS
Ellis is a drama film directed by the French artist known as JR from a screenplay by Eric Roth, Academy Award winner for Forest Gump and starring Robert De Niro. The story unfolds in the abandoned Ellis Island’s Hospital, New York.
Ellis is a short film that evokes the early years of Ellis Island when it was a refugee center. An exceptional Robert De Niro impersonates an immigrant who has returned to Ellis Island nowadays and walks through the hospital’s rooms, aisles and outsides while his voice-over deftly narrates his memories: feelings, fears, thoughts…
The great strength of this film is the masterful combination of music, narration and images. Ellis is a touching tribute to those who seeking freedom escaping from poverty and other distressing situations, abandoning their homes and families in search of a better, though uncertain , future. One of the most poignant scenes is when Robert stares at New York City through one of hospital windows and says: ‘And one day, she didn’t wake up. So I took her body and put it in the water, and watched it float to where she wanted to go. And I was alone again’. This scene literally brought tears to my eyes.
Ellis is not only an emotionally strong, but well worth-seeing film. In my opinion, suitable for all audiences should watched it to understand a little better the drama of being refugee. In a scale from zero to five, I give it a five.
ELLIS
Ellis is a drama film directed by the French artist known as JR from a screenplay by Eric Roth, Academy Award winner for Forest Gump and starring Robert De Niro. The story unfolds in the abandoned Ellis Island’s Hospital, New York.
Ellis is a short film that evokes the early years of Ellis Island when it was a refugee center. An exceptional Robert De Niro impersonates an immigrant who has returned to Ellis Island nowadays and walks through the hospital’s rooms, aisles and outsides while his voice-over deftly narrates his memories: feelings, fears, thoughts…
The great strength of this film is the masterful combination of music, narration and images. Ellis is a touching tribute to those who seeking freedom escaping from poverty and other distressing situations, abandoning their homes and families in search of a better, though uncertain , future. One of the most poignant scenes is when Robert stares at New York City through one of hospital windows and says: ‘And one day, she didn’t wake up. So I took her body and put it in the water, and watched it float to where she wanted to go. And I was alone again’. This scene literally brought tears to my eyes.
Ellis is not only an emotionally strong, but well worth-seeing film. In my opinion, suitable for all audiences should watched it to understand a little better the drama of being refugee. In a scale from zero to five, I give it a five.
THE WHISTLER
The Whistler, a short film directed by Bryce James McGuire and starring Kate Cobb & Josh Schell, is a disturbing and spine-tingling short horror story about a young couple in their home who have just killed a little bird by using a trap.
No sooner has the film started than the plot is intriguing and mysterious, how is the death of an innocent little bird going to affect the life of these two normal young adults? On the one hand the death of the light animal makes Kate, the young woman, uncomfortable and on the other hand Mark, the young man, cannot stop making fun of Kate for being upset and disgusting.
The short film looks at how easy and simple is to put an end to the life of an animal just because it could have been a little disturbing for us and it won’t have any bad consequences on us so, it seems to be the more logical and quick solution to solve our problem.
The music is the most frightening aspect of the film, it is performed in a way that will make you feel anguished from the very first moment till the end.
All in all, I have enjoyed every aspect of the shot, even the subtle-ones and so I recommend it to everyone who like feeling scared.
THE WHISTLER
The Whistler, a short film directed by Bryce James McGuire and starring Kate Cobb & Josh Schell, is a disturbing and spine-tingling short horror story about a young couple in their home who have just killed a little bird by using a trap.
No sooner has the film started than the plot is intriguing and mysterious, how is the death of an innocent little bird going to affect the life of these two normal young adults? On the one hand the death of the light animal makes Kate, the young woman, uncomfortable and on the other hand Mark, the young man, cannot stop making fun of Kate for being upset and disgusting.
The short film looks at how easy and simple is to put an end to the life of an animal just because it could have been a little disturbing for us and it won’t have any bad consequences on us so, it seems to be the more logical and quick solution to solve our problem.
The music is the most frightening aspect of the film, it is performed in a way that will make you feel anguished from the very first moment till the end.
All in all, I have enjoyed every aspect of the shot, even the subtle-ones and so I recommend it to everyone who like feeling scared.
DONKEY
Donkey is a drama short film written, produced and directed by Keir Burrows in London in 2011. It has been widely awarded and showed in the prestigious Tribeca Film Festival.
There are two main characters: David (James Farrar) and Stanley (Andrew London). The story narrates the thoughts of David, a successful young banker, who describes his good friendship with Stanley during their early school days, when Stanley was popular for making people laugh with his imitation of animals’ sounds, specially the donkey sound “eee-ooo”. Unfortunately, a few years later their relationship changed. Stanley had been bullied by David and other school mates. When they eventually find each other as adults, the results are quite surprising.
The short, filmed in a beautiful black and white style, is narrated by David from his own perspective. The piano music coupled with a gloomy atmosphere make the spectator feels the loneliness of the main character. Additionally, the photography and the camera work are sensational.
The short shows brilliantly the greatness and the misery of the friendship. Although this short is not adequate for children because of the language, some teachers use it in their classes. I strongly recommend “Donkey”, because it is excellent to reflect the problems of the children at school. Never have I seen such a tough provoking short!
WHAT DO I DESIRE?
“What do I desire” is a film directed and written by Naseh Jrab and narrated by Thomas Hughes. The story shows a current affair in the world where the main actor, an anonymous child, explains his thoughts and doubts, and shows how predictable people´s life are.
The story opens up with family drama where the main character´s father, who never did what he liked, has died and his mother is hardly supporting them without any time left for her. The child wonders himself what he wants to be when he grows up, but children of his age do not know the answer while their mums want their children to go to university in order to earn money and be well off in the future. But, is it the best option? Giving examples, the main actor shows the current life as a guided ridden horse where people spend their time doing things that they dislike in order to do things that they also dislike.
A well done story, told the point of view of a scary child, uses an unknown actor to empathize with the audience. Not only does the music play an important role in order to intensify the narration, but the voice quality and its rhythm are excellent.
The speaker transmits to the audience thoughts that they had had in the past and still have nowadays and dares people to find out their deeply desire in their life. A moving film for adults or teenagers where the phrase “live and work to live” is focused on and exalted but, unfortunately, subjective, perhaps …, because the story is shown from the point of view of a child.
ALONE
A short film named Alone. Award winning Post-Apocalyptic .Directed by Brock Torunski, written & produced by Brock Torunski and Alex Vietinghoff. Main actor: Last man of earth by Alex Vietinghoff. The length of the short film is about 6 minutes and the genre is drama.
At the beginning of the story there is a man working alone in an office with a computer .Then another person, who is not seen, leaves documentation for the main character. Suddenly, the telephone rings. He takes the phone call. He hears bad news. Everyone is dying. Apparently, he has had a flashback.
Afterwards, he wakes up from a dream. Nobody else is around. He is just trying to keep alive. During the short film, he is looking for human supplies like food, tools, first aid etc. He is able to find those things in different houses. When it is getting dark he goes out to follow a sad routine. Not until you watch the end do you realize how interesting the short film is.
The most interesting aspect is the scenery because it shows the European stereotype of the American lifestyle in the way work environment, houses, cars and the fear of nuclear catastrophe.
If you watch it, you will be able to suffer one of the current society problems, which is the feeling of people who are not well-integrated in their common environment. I really recommend you to feel the same as the main character in order to live passionately.
TEXT ME
“Text me” is a love story set in an Italian restaurant called Bartolino´s. Matt Bennett and Jill Shackner act the parts of Noah and Jamie respectively, two young people who have met on Facebook and are having a date for dinner in an expensive Italian restaurant. Directed by Daniel L. Ir. and Bayon Bennet, it is an excellent and original story.
Noah arrives two hours early for the dinner date. He has been looking at the restaurant menu and the prices……He does not have enough money to pay for such delightful food!
When Jamie arrives, not only does Noah remain seated, but also he doesn’t even say her name. they begin to talk to each other about something she has written on Facebook and he doesn´t understand anything at all about it so she explains it to him. With the excuse of receiving a new message, they begin to write mobile messages to other people about their first impressions about the other.
During the gripping development of the story, the girl is absolutely horrified. She even asks her mother to pick her up and save her. Suddenly something happens between the couple: He asks her to listen an extremely romantic song. But then, she receives her mother´s message: She is waiting for her outside.
It is a very austere film with hardly two stages and only three characters which are the young couple and the waiter. In spite of this, the director gets the audience hooked until the end of the story.
“Text me” is a film well worth seeing, especially for teen and young people who are used to making friends or establishing relationships on the internet in general. They will have fun with this love story.
VENGEANCE
Made in 2013, Vengeance is an action/suspense short film by the novel director Ben Hess. Set in the present day in an American wealthy suburb, Vengeance has been extensively awarded. It also won the 2013 CYFF Film Festival.
Watching over his aunt and uncle’s house, James runs into his old best friend, Troy, who thinking the bungalow to be empty breaks into the house with an associate in cahoots to burgle the safe. Nonetheless, when they notice James is in the house, they capture him. Troy, unaware that the hostage is his old friend, do not want to hurt him yet his associate, Kane, wants to get rid of him The reason for the burglary is that Troy and James quarreled in the past and Troy has come back looking for revenge. Will vengeance take its toll or will forgiveness prevail?
The short film is remarkable in its cinematography with an impressive choice of scenes and a good shooting. The selection of the music, the editing as well as the plot is also prominent. On the other hand, its main weakness is acting, with little convincing performances and fights.
Not only does Vengeance have action scenes but it also tackles forgiveness and repentance. All of this makes the story interesting for people who love action and suspense films but it can also be pretty amusing for everyone.