Baggage (2005) User Reviews

Very Cheeky Short Film

[Theo Robertson · 7/10 · 26 September 2005]

It may appear to be flippant to make a film featuring a drug dealer as the main protagonist but Greg McManus isn't the first person to do so and he won't be the last . Few people complain about the morality of BLOW or TRAINSPOTTING do they ?

Despite the amorality ( Can anyone define what is moral ? ) this is a highly entertaining short film that starts with Damien being stopped at customs and having his bag searched . Damien is a drugs courier and he's carrying some stuff with him which means he's looking at several years in prison , possibly sharing a cell with a bad man called Winston who likes to carry out internal examinations on his cell mates with his penis . You can understand why in a split second Damien is silently praying to God

The story then flashes back to how Damien got involved in the drugs business and director McManus uses literalism and street theatre where characters address the camera . It turns out hired drugs couriers are called " Mules " so characters on a plane suddenly spout donkey ears ! Damien explains to the audience the dangers of swallowing drugs . Cut to a plane passenger asking a dead body if he's alright

This is a cheeky little short that I know a lot of people will find highly distasteful because we're asked to empathise with someone heavily involved in the drug trade , but it's also highly amusing and involving and is certainly one of the better short films I've seen recently

An entertaining and engaging look at the issue of drug smuggling

[bob the moo · 15 September 2005]

Although this film feels like it was made Guy Richie standing over Greg McManus' shoulder, this is still an interesting and entertaining short film that makes a really good job of dealing with the issue of westerners acting as mules. It doesn't get near the emotional impact of Maria Full of Grace, but it takes a more humorous approach that works better and will appeal more to the target audience who can maybe relate to the subject. Although I don't think it is a massive problem amongst white western youth, I can see it being an issue worthy of raising and the flashback, to-camera delivery works well. Asides from Damien's discussions are generally quite funny and imaginative without taking away from the seriousness of the point.

The delivery did remind me of Lock Stock etc at times but the film doesn't really glamorise the act of smuggling so perhaps it is an unfair comparison in regards material. Burrows is convincing and makes the "to-camera" stuff work well. Overall then, a worthy little film that is entertaining and interesting. The delivery may not sing out originality but this is a minor problem and the film is worth finding if you get the chance.