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Reviews
Hawk (2011)
A short that just misses the mark but nonetheless has a lot to offer - awe inspiring visuals, a beautiful score and an intricate concept
I was torn on what to make of this film, the concept is captivating and sophisticated, however, its message was not translated as it could have been. It does not convey Rowan's quest into adulthood amidst this mythical, fabled and secret world with the justice it deserves. I did not find myself as absorbed by the film as I hoped to be.
The scenes after the Grandfather's death require the audience to pay close attention to the film. Some may consider this a good attribute, but the extent of the effort required to do so meant I found it to be counterproductive, a bit tiresome and distracting from being fully immersed in the fantasy world. From trying to unravel the confusing storyline it was harder to appreciate the impressive visuals and epic music performed by the live orchestra. Along with the vocals of the Serendipity Choir, both add a great deal of authenticity to Hawk. They seamlessly tie in with the Welsh landscape that truly lifts the film.
The cinematography is stunning with wide shots of the Welsh mountains, forests and rivers that mirror a hawk's birdseye view. They bring an element of magic and awe and give a true fairytale atmosphere to the picture. Nature is pivotal to every part of the story by appearing as the surrounding environment and as a different realm. The protagonist, Rowan, drinks a hallucinogenic liquid that is like taking the Ayahuasca plant, found in the Amazonian rainforest. This plant is used as part of a learning and healing process, suggesting a similarity to the type of journey that Rowan will undertake. The shots are very Lord of the Rings-esque with unusual religious elements in a story of becoming a man. Unfortunately, there is an overuse of fades that today are quite outdated and dare I say slightly cheesy.
The film challenges what subject matter a short film can cover. The creativity and imagery are exceptional for a short film budget and a small crew size - this became more impressive when discovering how quickly Hawk was produced. It delivers a broad message about the real consequences of sinfully abusing nature. This becomes most relevant for today, since humans are affecting nature like never before, for example through climate change. Hawk, perhaps unintentionally, serves as an incredibly important and harrowing reminder of this point with its own mythical flair.
The lighting redeems some of the negatives. The use of shadowing is most commendable in creating mystery, allure and ambiguity, especially for the antlered god. Given the use of primarily sepia colours and the emphasis on the dark against the light suggests it is symbolic of the battle of right vs wrong and good vs evil that Rowan will undergo.
Hawk purposely leaves a lot of questions unanswered, that to a degree is frustrating but nevertheless, it ensures the film remains in your memory.
Gin & Dry (2010)
A brilliant, evocative and extremely well shot piece that deals with very moving themes
Gin and Dry is undoubtedly unique. The narrative is comedic yet sombre and has many charming elements. It highlights the extent of the loneliness that can permeate the lives of the elderly whilst emphasising their attempts to enjoy what life they have left. This piece of work convinced me of the potential of a short film to invoke moving reactions; a lot is successfully conveyed in a limited amount of time without it becoming hard to follow.
The plot renders heart-warming and heart-wrenching emotions, leaving the audience, perhaps inadvertently, conflicted over our laughter and sadness especially towards Albi, who effortlessly serves as a metaphor for the elderly that spend holidays that were designed to be enjoyed with family, alone. The director branding it as 'bittersweet' most effectively summarises the feel of Gin and Dry.
The shot of the record player in the beginning and end scenes convey a cyclical structure. It suggests an inevitability of life and death, but with an elegance and a determination to overcome such hardship. It holds a message to enjoy the little things in life but also warns of taking what we have for granted: the scene regarding the fortunate generation is most relevant to us millennials today whose lives are the furthest from real austerity.
The work is edited and shot to a very high standard, the mainly muted colour schema with patches of red, green and golden tones conveys the outdated essence of the nursing home and the downtrodden perception the inhabitants hold towards their carers like Adam, their surroundings and to Christmas Day.
The sound also plays an important role. The sound quality elevates the piece and ensures scenes remain with the audience long after they have watched it - from the distinctive clinking of ice cubs in the Gin and Dry glass to the persistent fuzz of a tv without any service to Dee's favourite song rising in volume and intensity as the lights go out in Albi's room at the end.
Overall, it is a well-produced, entertaining and yet saddening piece of work that I hugely enjoyed.
Killing Thyme (2015)
A uniuqe and moving short with an unexpected, delightfully disturbing twist.
This is a complex, dark black comedy that genuinely subverts the watcher's expectation and surprises us with the direction it takes. This short picture deals with numerous themes such as growth, decay and death, childhood innocence, friendship.
All the actor's performances are truly remarkable, especially Joe Reynold's given his young age. There is no shortage of witty dialogue; with hilarious one-liners from the cranky old man, Norman, and the quips between the two young and old characters.
The music is incredibly fitting and evocative. Upbeat for the opening, low pitched in some scenes with Norman that exaggerates his melancholy and builds tension in all the right places. It is clear a great deal of effort has been dedicated to this and to even the most minute details - the title and opening credits that appear as a child's handwriting with small drawings of different vegetables.
This piece conveys the dark side in Joe Reynold's character, Sam and his deep yearning to acquire an allotment that, perhaps, can account for his prompt willingness to purposely give the old man a fatal overdose. However, he is not malicious, but he genuinely believes that Norman wants to die and due to his young age, he cannot understand why Norman would say he wants to die if he does not mean it. The one negative I have is that Sam's motivation can be a little unclear at times. It can be misconstrued as to exactly why he takes it upon himself to 'fix' Brian Cox's character Norman's supposed death wish. As an intelligent young boy, shown by his extensive knowledge on plants, his rash decision to essentially murder the old man after reading only one book on death, spurred by his desire for an allotment can seem somewhat improbable, unconvincing and quite shocking. Especially since his mother explained the severity of overdoses to him, it seems too blasé. Nonetheless, the film does a great job of reconstructing a child's naïve view of the world with hilarious consequences.
Killing Thyme was a pleasure to watch. It is thought-provoking and jam-packed with entertainment. It is a treat for the whole family to enjoy with its feel-good ending that cements a rather paternal friendship of Sam and Norman.
The Girl in the Dress (2015)
Hialarious and entertaining
The plot is quite absurd yet despite its farfetched nature it manages to sell the story very convincingly. With a hysterical twist that makes you question the main character's sanity after she breaks up, Emily holds strong parallels with the character of Bridget Jones, where both attempt to make sense of life and love. It allows us to empathise with and relate to the stupid and inexplainable ventures we have all participated in when in love.
The script provides endless amusing opportunities for different forms of social embarrassment. Whether Emily is bickering incessantly with Rob, a gold-painted Henry VIII street performer who she first views as a bad omen to running around in a wedding dress she had professionally made when she had not been proposed to or hiding in the altar of the church during the wedding service after coming to her senses.
I enjoyed the use of locations that are local to the Capture Production Studio, such as Waterlow Park in Archway or St Michael's Church in Highgate. They make the story authentic to the audience, who may have been to or can visit these locations and add to the liveliness of the film through the hustling and bustling nature of this residential area of North London in the summer.
In the beginning, the use of saturated and vivid colouring appropriately represents Emily's rose-tinted and distorted perception of her previous relationship. By the end, the colour palette is more diluted to suggest she has finally moved on into the reality as she walks off with Rob. The soundtrack used elevates this message. The film draws to an end with musical lyrics that no longer question 'what she (Emily) will do when she's all alone'. The film promotes a positive outlook on life to demonstrate that silver linings are always around the corner.
Although it is not my favourite of the short films Capture have produced, it greatly deserves merit for its quirky take on a British rom-com and the amiable feeling it leaves behind.