Maybe One Day (2009) User Reviews

An odd little experimental film...life of Dan Fredenburgh

[planktonrules · 7/10 · 12 April 2010]

This is an odd little film and one that is very difficult to describe or categorize. I guess the closest description I can think of is 'experimental' as the film defies classification and is a unique viewing experience--and not, apparently, meant as a commercial product per se.

The film is shot entirely in closeups of the main and only character, Dan Fredenburgh. As you see him going through this day in his life, you can hear him doing a voice-over--a voice-over about life, thrills and the meaning of it all. And, in the process, he goes from what appears to be a very ordinary and mundane life to soaring on some sort of WWI vintage airplane along with very inspiring music.

This isn't a great film or one to change your life--but it does show tremendous skill and I can appreciate the efforts of the young film maker, Chris Cottam, who wrote, directed and even wrote the music for this little film! Good job and I hope to see more from him.

Worthy message but it never soars as the character say he does

[bob the moo · 25 August 2013]

It was by chance that I found myself watching this film and only afterwards looked up where I knew the director's name from and found that he directs many of the excellent Rich Hall documentaries on BBC4. That aside this film only really have interested me because it was a bit straightforward. The sentiment in it is worthy as we see a man trudging his way to yet another repetitive day but then decides to not do it and enjoy his day and experience his life instead of just live it. In terms of what the film is saying, it is a good message but the manner of delivery has more in common with a Hallmark card than with a poem. Perhaps it was just me but I wanted it to trill me with the words and the feelings but it didn't ever get to that point for me.

It does still work for what it is though, but I found the best thing about it to be the technical side. It is wholly shot on those camera rigs which mounts the camera on the actor's body; in this case both in front and behind. This is a nice effect mostly due to it being consistently applied throughout the film. It helped me focus on the individual, on his feelings contrasting with the start of his day and his breakout into the rest. Fredenburgh does a pretty good job of looking tired and then uplifted but his narration was maybe part of the reason it seemed a little lumpen to my ears.

A good message though, just not as insightful or as beautiful as I would have liked. Visually the film is nicely framed with the chest rig, although again the music tended to make me think Hallmark levels of emotion rather than genuineness.