The film checks off all the right boxes in terms of writing, performances and the manner in which the narrative holds itself together. It’s the story of two former lovers, meeting to return each other their things. What they say is in direct contrast to what is truly on their mind or what they wish to communicate to each other. Films, especially of a shorter duration, have attempted to convey the same sentiment previously, yet In Other Words brings to the screen a sensitivity and vulnerability which can be attributed primarily to its strong writing. The film is subtle in all manners of the word, another notable aspect since the emotions it manages to convey are of the raging category, one that applies to perhaps violent delights and their violent ends. All of it is wrapped together and presented to the viewer in the form of a beautiful viewing experience using soft colour palettes and an even softer background score. There are no loud camera angles or wasteful use of space. The script is tight, relatable and brings to life a situation rehearsed and performed several times in a person’s life, and still, no less painful.

In Other Words | Short Film of the Day

Sexual encounters and the awkwardness of first times are no new subjects or thematic concerns for a short film, and neither are stories of queer characters, slowly making their presence felt more and more with every passing day. However combining both to talk about the newness of a sexual experience between two characters who don't conform to heteronormativity, without falling prey to the trap of glorifying it or imbuing it with a tone of tragedy, is indeed a unique approach of crafting a narrative. It is precisely in this manner that Dirty infuses a fresh breath of air in the storytelling space by exploring a mundane reality, one unfortunately not engaged with enough, and simply presenting it forth without ostentation or unnecessary emotional devices. Consequently, the film's concerns are not positioned using the self and the 'Other' binary, or juxtaposed by employing heterosexuality against homosexuality, or by pivoting the plot on any such contrast. Instead, it takes the viewer into an encounter of two young queer high-school students, one more inexperienced than the other, and the hesitation, confusion, and an unexpected situation that ensues thereafter. Additionally, it is this dedication and meticulous attention by a story to its intentions that allow it a universality and authenticity, as Dirty goes ahead to exhibit. It is also in this that lies the normalisation of a situation without ever explicitly spelling it out.

Dirty | Short Film of The Day

If the premise of the film, a man choosing to be furniture for his wife (quite literally) is not bizarre enough, there is its accompanying opening visual - a man upside down, posing as a seat for someone to sit on. As the story progresses, the viewer is allowed the chance to make sense of this seemingly absurd situation which, behind the facade of ridiculousness, carries a strong comment on marriage. It further draws attention to the breakdown of communication between the couple where instead of realising what your partner truly desires (or perhaps even read their texts), you might end up over-compensating in a manner that does little to cater to their needs. The film is notably neat in the manner in which it conjures its visuals minus any loud noises, harsh light or bursts of colours. The conversation between the two characters is frugal, much like their house, following a minimalist approach to furniture. And just when one partner is done taking care of his futile efforts to be furniture, it is time for the other to step into the same role. As redundant as these efforts might be, it is perhaps the only way they can fill in the lacunas in their communication.

Bad Furniture | Short Film of the Day

The short film is a skilfully disconcerting exploration of maternal love and the disturbing manner in which it tears a family apart. It opens with a grim shot of a red-cheeked child in a coffin, invoking a sense of morbidity that would come to haunt the entirety of the narrative. Unable to let go of their dead son, the couple finds itself making their way to a doll-maker. The latter can briefly make them forget about the death of their son, with a fair warning to never let the illusion overpower their sense of reality. As a horror story would have it, the characters of course overlook the warning, or find themselves incapable of paying heed to it, leading to dire consequences. The Dollmaker is a deeply engaging story, sure to satisfy admirers of horror and otherwise. Albeit not entirely fresh, it is an interesting and engaging comment on the indomitable human desire to bring someone back from the dead and to seek transitory relief, as illusory as it might be, from loss and pain, even at the cost of complete self-annihilation.

The Dollmaker | Short Film of the Day

The film turns out to be the most comforting, warmth-inducing balm for a cold, scared heart. As Fran goes about life, unable to make the desire to die and end her life go away, she also finds herself taking fancy to a colleague. When she finds Robert reciprocate the attraction, their story develops in the most calm manner, exploiting its economy of dialogues to the fullest. Both Sarbh and Wright-Mead bring a softness to the screen that is not easy to come by. In a sense the story indeed is a romance, but it's also so much more. It is a story about isolation and what can be potentially seen as melancholia and suicidal tendencies. It is about the nervousness and the fuzzies of a first date, as much as its about the awkwardness of new lovers and a failure to communicate affection despite all desire to do so. Consequently, with its gentle handling of the subject, marked more by silences than any noise that could mar its simple yet loud and clear style, the film becomes a beautifully crafted, sincerely executed piece of art that brings to the screen an evocative sense of endearment and tenderness.

sometimes, i think about dying | Short Film of the Day

The question at the heart of the film is what is the price you are willing to pay for your freedom, to not cower in shadows but unequivocally assert who you really are, and eventually live a life of acceptance, love, and hope? The answer to this is also beautifully and seamlessly nestled within the film as it introduces us to Sasha Smirnov, a Russian gay man who had to leave his country when his sexual identity became a direct threat to his life and safety. 

In Sasha, we see a man who has built a life from scratch in the US, a country far, far away from home. He is the most fitting subject to tell a story of resilience, hope, one of surmounting tremendous adversity, and yet, never losing the ability to put one foot in front of the other, to always look to the future and all the potential it holds. In the protagonist, we see the inimitable and rare combination of vulnerability and fierceness. Sasha is unmissable in the sense of hope he conjures on screen, while always being fully aware of the past, and how burdensome it can become sometimes. 
The narrative-building and storytelling of the film are compelling and skilled, alongside being notably efficient in introducing the viewer to its protagonist. It is clear in the articulation of all its intentions, and in presenting a story that is not only heartfelt and meaningful but also a well-balanced combination of self-affirmation and vulnerability, and the loud and emphatic assertion of never giving up on the hope of a better tomorrow.

At Home Among Strangers  | Short Film of the Month

The music video triggers several ideas to pace through your mind while trying to truly comprehend the visuals on screen. The palette is cool, the colours minimal and the location stunning. It is seemingly the story of a protagonist and his relationship with a horse. There is a surreal, otherworldly, abstract emotion that can be associated with the whole video, only further supplemented by its mesmerising and closely controlled vocals. The writing and the visuals exhibit a sophisticated weaving together, with not even a single extra moment wasted on either. The narrative takes its time to build, and yet does not under-utilise any component or element to put forth its message. Both the video and the song are essentially about power, race and the colour of the skin perhaps. It is a reminder to not trivialise someone's well-directed anger and emotion and simply render their discontent a "lover's quarrel". The lyrics demand an equality which seems to be missing when a disagreement is defined in this manner, hinting that it is one of equals. However, how can it be a conversation of equals if even the mere presence of this discrimination is brushed aside? The video raises this question in a poignant manner and leaves the viewer grappling with its potential answers.

Quarrel | Short Film of the Day

Libby and Erin are new parents to a little boy who has arrived with a few hiccups in tow, circumstances they are not entirely prepared for. There appears to be a disconnect between them in the resolution of these, one which becomes the driving force and the primary thematic concern of the narrative. As their doubts and uncertainties are exposed for a conversation, it is a plate of placenta around which the drama unfolds. 
The afterbirth becomes a nexus of anxieties, discomfort, and uncomfortable conversations. The screenplay, chemistry, and most crucially, prop support (!), each outdoes the other in bringing this reality to life, presenting a film that is not only sincere and heartfelt in an effortless manner but also manages to express all its gravitas with humor and drama tied together. 
While our new parents might have a thing or two to figure out about this massive change in their lives, the film and its execution remain clear and steadfast in the expression of its intentions all along.

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