Horst_In_Translation Review of This Is Vanity

This Is Vanity (2013)

Never really manages anything beyond scratching the surface

[4/10 · 10 April 2017]

"This Is Vanity" is a British 23-minute live action short film from 2013, so this one will have its 5th anniversary next year and it is the most known work by director and writer Oliver Goodrum and writer Alexander Craig. The core subject is basically discrimination against disabled people. And it is a very emotional subject which makes it very sad, almost very painful to watch how the filmmakers here just did not have the talent apparently to let this film live up to its premise. The final note that it is based on real events is honestly far from enough to make up for all the flaws in story-telling here. I have seen other reviewers write that at some point it just turns into one screaming scene after the next and they do not only miss out on the smooth transition, but also on a plot that justifies a double-digit runtime. I think another reviewer is correct when he says that the outcome here is actually a work of vanity itself. I have to give it a thumbs-down, but want to emphasize that I do not really blame any of the actors here. They do their best, but it is just never working or turning into an interesting piece. Watch something else instead.