"Even lovely things dear, must come to an end." Addictions are one of the many horrible masters of the world today, and can tragically start near or at the mid-point of a person's life with devastating results if not properly dealt with. As depicted in this short drama, the giving in to of fleshly urges is shown unabashedly but also does not wander into sentimentality either, having a different flavor in mind. 'Keep Tarna Til Nine', directed by Regent University alum Zach Solberg (Can of Worms), tells the story of the eponymous everyday teenage girl (Meesha McHugh) who, though surrounded by guests at a house party, seems all alone as a jumble of choices in her head are whirling around at what seems to be one hundred miles an hour, as would the rush off of a high from her compulsiveness of cough syrup. Her mind returns to flashbacks of her guzzling straight from the medicine capsule (in actuality a capsule of pomegranate juice) to waking up in her bedroom in a mental haze, visited by her dog, disloyal boyfriend (Nathaniel Banister) and eventually her warm, loving though deceased father (Ethan Marten). Seeing her as the lovely girl she has become rather than through the ugliness of her issue, her mind goes back again to where she is talking and holding hands intimately with her Dad in their living room discussing how though even beautiful things fade over time, it is the choices we can make for today that will truly impact our tomorrow.
The photography shot by another Regent alum, Ethan Johnson, and the editing therein this short are some of the key elements that really make this film work, from uncomfortable flashbacks showing Tarna's throat-pulsating close-up of her indulgence of syrup to the often out-of-focus POV shots of her awakening in her bedroom after consumptive overdoses.
Dynamic and with an endearing message of hope to addicts or of whomever watches this short, 'Tarna' allows us to let memories blossom anew in all colors when we choose to unyoke our scarred past, apply some help and to fully embrace the now, shown through a powerhouse ending. Delivering a poignant yet robust message with a strong dose of redemption (the best medicine), this film will surely keep you until long after it has ended.
The photography shot by another Regent alum, Ethan Johnson, and the editing therein this short are some of the key elements that really make this film work, from uncomfortable flashbacks showing Tarna's throat-pulsating close-up of her indulgence of syrup to the often out-of-focus POV shots of her awakening in her bedroom after consumptive overdoses.
Dynamic and with an endearing message of hope to addicts or of whomever watches this short, 'Tarna' allows us to let memories blossom anew in all colors when we choose to unyoke our scarred past, apply some help and to fully embrace the now, shown through a powerhouse ending. Delivering a poignant yet robust message with a strong dose of redemption (the best medicine), this film will surely keep you until long after it has ended.