Ascendant exists in a beautiful, cinematic, unease-inducing world of its own, developing organically, measuring every step, taking in every progression, before truly revealing its intentions to the viewer. A man wanders around in an abandoned greyhound racing track, allowing himself to take in the glories of the past, the grandeur of an age that has passed him by. As he moves from one corner to another, sipping on a drink from a forgotten bottle, looking at portraits of the greats of the racing world, the narrative draws attention to a sense of admiration within him, perhaps even a longing for a space he cannot inhabit any more. 

Additionally, the black and white cinematography, whether a deliberate choice or technical necessity - adds a sense of disconcertment to the film. It heightens your discomfort with a realm where doe-eyed hounds are pitted against each other, their bone structures humanly-altered to turn them into most optimum racing tools for human recreation. 

While the protagonist may have first allowed us a glimpse into his fascination mixed with curiosity for the lost age, it does not take long for all of it to soon turn to horror, shock and disgust. Do not think for one second that you, the viewer, would be distanced from any of these emotions. The film ensures, as a result of its visual prowess and sophistication, that you feel each of them very deeply. In the process, Ascendant becomes a paradigmatic example of powerful storytelling, which when coupled with technical skill, is capable of producing the most notable results.

Ascendant | Short Film of the Day

Equipped with snacks, a ring light, and emotional undercurrents impossible to shake off, four girls record a video. However, there is a far more sinister entity uncurling its limbs behind the scenes of this inane activity. 

 The film establishes a component of violence and thrill alongside the aforementioned reality. An interaction with all of these elements also allows a glimpse at a society where the preoccupation with internet fame is rampant, and where many young people see its achievement as an end to the mundaneness of their own life. In a bid to go viral, and therefore get a chance to leave their dull school life behind, the young women record their video, completely unaware of the threat of violence that looms right above their heads. 

The movement from the establishment of the premise to the conflict, crisis, and climax arrives swiftly, without wasting any beats. The screenplay and performances facilitate this progression. The entirety of the plot unfolds within a limited physical space, keeping itself deliberately and efficiently lean. The short in its current form can serve as an ideal concept for a feature, building on the shock value it conjures at its conclusion, once again, pronouncing the contemporary world’s obsession with virtual fame, and the extent to which young people are willing to go for it.

Viral  | Short Film of the Month

A solitary figure takes us into the world of the film, and it is primarily his voice that accompanies the viewer to make sense of all that unfolds. A realm of tight close-ups constitutes this space. It is a fitting visual landscape for the paranoia and the resultant isolation that are presented to the viewer. At its core rests a terrible tragedy, an accident that altered the course of the protagonist’s life in an irrevocable manner. 

The narrative does not delve into the hows and whys of this moment for too long, instead, it simply presents it, an experience of a life that is far removed from society. The emotional impact is achieved not only with the sustained pace of the end result but also with the disconcerting silence of a house where the protagonist is the sole inhabitant, pronounced well in the visual grammar. 

The film remains consistent in terms of the execution of its intentions, as well as the clarity of its portrayal throughout, notably supported by performance and screenplay.

Things That Didn't Happen | Short Film of the Day

‘Sojourn’ presents a very relevant story, and shares it in an interesting, unexpected manner. As an investigation unfolds between Athena and Detective Sanger, we realize this is an exchange of equal adversaries. 

While one side may have come dangerously close to overpowering the other, soon the scales tip out of balance, and the narrative ropes in a notable employment of sci-fi thrill. A past defined by a grotesque coupling of kindness and violence, of compassion and cruelty is brought to life, one that forms the backbone of the film. 

The end result is not only engaging, but also furthers a crucial conversation in an impactful manner. It definitely leaves the door open for a longer project that dives deeper and longer in the world of the characters presented thus.

Sojourn | Short Film of the Day

The Fall Line offers itself as a thriller that smoothly steers clear of the low hanging fruits of the genre. Instead of taking refuge in a jarring background score or heady visuals, it brings to life a world marked by an eerie silence and muted palettes. 

Two rangers, Everette and Murphy, are wintering in a remote cabin at a national park. They are distinctly portrayed with opposing personalities, further revealed by the differing effects of the physical and mental isolation on them. The patience in one is offset by the annoyance in the other, if one's verbosity is notable, the other is defined by his laconic demeanour. It is precisely in this manner that the narrative draws you into its disconcerting developments without your being able to put a finger on what is exactly amiss. 

 The progression of events so far allows the film to succeed at invoking unease in the viewer, fulfilling its aim as a thriller. The final product thus becomes an engagement with the internal, disturbing aspects of the human mind more than the external, overt tools that are often employed within this specific realm of storytelling.

The Fall Line | Short Film of the Day

While trying to come to terms with his relationship with his father, the protagonist gives the viewer an intense, unabashed look at everything the relationship has meant for him. The narrative explores the co-existence of an all-consuming, overwhelmingly powerful love, positioned right beside the complete absence of it, or worse, its transformation into anger, bitterness, and resentment. While there may be hope and desire for a bond between two people, if the foundation is already festering, there is little room for any kind of redemption or salvaging, the film suggests. 

At the film’s start, we are presented with the image of the protagonist writing something, but if it’s a literal reality of him writing something based on his relationship with his father, or is it only a metaphor for him re-writing the relationship itself in his head to eventually find closure and thereby move on, becomes a relevant thought to engage with. 

As the plot develops, talks of dreams and writing find their way into it, coupled with Shakespearean lyricism. However, each element only leads to the same discussion, the portrayal of a highly damaging equation, and the power it still has over the protagonist. He may feel suffocated, and uncomfortable, presented alongside the Oedipal image of a son inflicting violence on his father. There may be harking back to the childhood games, and yet, all of it always remains punctuated by something graver, heavier. Pain, hurt, and disappointment never leave the narrative, finding an echo within the screenplay and performances, while being portrayed in an engaging, experimental manner all along for the audience to interact with.

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