Not exactly a happy/feel good 20 minute ride, promising director Kemal Yildirim's latest effort behind the camera is an impressively shot and constructed short film that showcases a knack for the filmmaker as an all-rounder behind and in front of the camera.
Telling the story of Holly-Rose Durham's Alice, a woman whose life and mental state is fracturing around her after a topsy-survey relationship with Yildirim's Tris, Saudade is a brief glimpse into the crumbling psyche of a broken mind, one trying to fight their way through despite the worst enemy being themselves.
Saudade, which refers to a feeling of longing, melancholy or nostalgia, is certainly not an easy watch thanks to its subject matter but Yildirim's handling of the film is impressive, with a number of well-shot scenes combining with strong edits helping create a well-crafted and assured short film that features a great central turn from Holly-Rose Durham.
A relative newcomer, Durham is in almost every scene of Saudade and despite the fact she doesn't have to say a lot, her ability to craft emotion and deliver a raw and uncompromising performance in a relatively short period of time would suggest that the budding actress could have a very promising career in front of the camera should she choose to pursue the acting pathway.
Final Say -
With fine work from its director and Durham's committed central turn, Saudade is a solid short film with a particularly memorable finale and while it won't be everyone's cup of tea, Saudade is a worthy watch for short film fans around the world.
3 garden statues out of 5
