Starters (2012) User Reviews

Heart-warming Film

[geraldyelverton · 9/10 · 2 August 2015]

Starters is a heart warming film about a woman who risks everything to save her ailing relative.

The six minute film from Robert Kouba is the complete package of writing, directing, editing and acting. From start to finish the movie proves engaging for its viewers. The main character is attempting to aide her relative and decides to participate in a body transfer for what we assume is a cure.

Kouba seems to elevate his talent with each additional film. Like his previous films there is a lack of dialogue that honestly is not missed in this project. His ability to tell a story through cinematography and sound is absolutely amazing. His talents are vast.

Starters - Brilliant , beautiful and superb

[jilldalejd · 9/10 · 30 December 2013]

"The price of anything is the amount of life you exchange for it." Very touching and lovely story of a mother's desperation and unconditional love for her child. I've always thought there should be theater venues for some incredible short films and this is one of them. The ominous tone is set immediately through the cinematography, camera angles and music score. The feeling of a mother's desperation to save her suffering child is felt and beautifully captured. The casting was exceptional; the child is so adorable (even as he lay coughing) that you are rooting for him to live. Fantastic acting and direction. This six minute short superbly captures the theme of the value of life as the literal and symbolic transfer of life is depicted at the clinic.

I highly recommend this short film. Superb!

Very over-hyped director and movie

[Horst_In_Translation · 4/10 · 20 August 2015]

"Starters" is an English-language (although there is almost no dialog) 6-minute short film from 3 years ago. The most significant thing about it is that Swiss director Robert Kouba was not even 20 years old when he made this little movie and it was far from his first work. Still, despite the young age, I must say that I do not see any great talent in the three films I have seen from him so far. He soon has his first full feature movie out, so we'll see if he delivers there. So far, he is more quantity than quality to me. The idea here is a good one, even if body transfer isn't anything very new or innovative in film, but the execution is only mediocre, especially towards the ending. And the very pretentious quote certainly does not help the matter either. Not recommended.

It's very touching

[miryam-88521 · 10/10 · 6 August 2015]

The message left by this short film is very touching and makes us reflect on the values of family and sacrifice. The story is about a young girl who sacrifices her life to give a new hope to her little brother, seriously ill. The society in which they live has now completely lost any value, living only for money and profit: the protagonist is fully aware of that, but nevertheless she decides to do the same this profound gesture of love. I also loved the cast, who perfectly managed to immerse themselves in the role of the characters. Another masterpiece by Robert Kouba that I loved and that I recommend to all!