Using a highway as its predominant visual, the film invokes a conversation on family as well as faith. While the emotional elements still have a thematic affinity, tying it with the physical space of a barren heath makes for an interesting choice. A woman is driving in the middle of nowhere when she gets a disconcerting phone call from her worried father. Bad reception ensures that it gets disconnected at the most inopportune moment, leaving the protagonist in complete uncertainty about where things truly stand. The same sense of suffocating duress is conjured by the sight of her, almost non-existent against a massive landscape which threatens to swallow her any moment. The rest of the film then simply becomes a portrayal and echo of the severe stress she has to battle as she endeavours to make it to her destination as soon as possible. It is in this uncertainty that faith makes its presence felt, both literally, by way of a crucifix that is a pivotal car accessory in the scene, as well as metaphorically in the form of an invisible force that keeps the woman going. No easy task to undertake, to display all of these emotions without truly using any exchange of dialogues, the film comes across as an expert attempt. It is only during the final reveal that the viewer is consciously made to realise how deeply involved they had become in the story all along. However, will this realisation come with a sigh of relief or despair?

The Call | Short Film of the Day

A young girl, Mia, has been tasked with taking care of a man's house who is away on a short trip. She has only two rules to follow, one is about her taking care of his beloved plant, and the other asks her to not have any guests over. The film begins with her opening the door to Caleb, a friend, and there goes one of the rules out of the window. Of course the viewer knows the plant will be in jeopardy soon, and that the rejection of the only other rule won't be far behind. As is expected of fearless young people, soon there are plans of having people over and throwing a party. However before things can develop any further, an accident occurs - the pot of the plant is shattered to pieces. And thus begins a series of misadventures for the two characters to figure out a way to procure another pot of the same kind. From overpriced options to those that require them trespassing into another person's property, from braving aggressive dogs, to finally making a run for it all, the short film employs all of this and more. The film, with its notable camerawork, comes across as a sincere endeavour to weave a story and allow the viewer to participate in it. When the plant has finally been restored to its original position with a new, unscathed pot, which next havoc would wriggle its way into the sorry situation of Mia and Caleb?

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