If the purpose of art is to disorient, this short film succeeds at it most brilliantly. With its disparate images which still somehow find a common link weaving them together, all thanks to its skilful narrative, Under Covers involves the viewer right from its very first opening visual. The film offers a heady cocktail of childish images and mature content that would leave the viewer baffled about what to make of the film, but in the most wonderful ways. From controversial to violent to simply disturbing - the images roll one after the other, invoking sexuality, religion, violence and the fear of the supernatural. On a night of a lunar eclipse, all that it simply does is delve into the lives and secrets of the inhabitants of a small town. As the surreal, dreamy transitions follow in quick successions, would you have the stomach for what it has in store for you?

Under Covers | Short Film of the Day

In a world that battles spiritual and moral decadence, excesses of the body and seemingly limitless debauchery, our protagonist Orfeo, acquires the role of a contemporary Dante Alighieri on a quest to comprehend the idea of freedom and the meaning of existence. The film is especially notable in the manner in which it brings all of these concerns to life employing skilled, seamless visuals and equally strong writing to not simply match, but also enhance them. 

As Orfeo progresses from one corner of the night to another, moving from a Hellish den of addictions and promiscuity, to an isolating cab ride and then to a sudden encounter with a stranger, the narrative invokes almost a sense of nyctophilia with its portrayal of the night and its darkness. However, the emotional or mental darkness that it could potentially signify is not a welcome thought, but one requiring analysis, and even the pursuit of an escape from it, if one is possible to begin with. 

The film is grim, but poetic in its exploration and engagement with the human condition. The thematic issues it deals with are disconcerting, a similar disorientation also conjured by way of its visuals, but alluring in their surreal beauty. Consequently, traversing this landscape marked by its carnal nature, and an inherent meaninglessness, also becomes an exercise in admiring the aesthetics of darkness, one which is broken and interrupted, albeit in a controlled manner, only by city lights, or by the brief warmth of companionship, as fleeting as it might be, or in the hope that nights are sometimes accompanied by glowing stars, and always by the hope of a morning that would follow soon after.

The Hermit in the Night | Short Film of the Day

The entirety of the video is shot on a smartphone, bringing to life efficient use of resources marked by their own self-imposed limitation. The story portrays for us a single day in the life of the protagonist who finds himself in possession of a strange lighter. As he walks around London, playing with its magical abilities, lovely images are conjured before you. Lighting up its flame turns day into night, and extinguishing it reverses the effect. The visuals tell a beautiful story, coupled with an equally strong edit. The seamless transitions make the narrative more than what it already is until the fateful moment when the lighter finally disappears as quickly as it had appeared in the protagonist's life. The final product exhibits skill, sophistication, crisp storytelling and the lucid communication of all the intentions of the plot, marked by brevity as the cherry on top of it all.

The Lighter | Short Film Nominee

Employing beautiful visuals and a sophisticated edit, the short film brings to life a conversation on loneliness and isolation. As we come out of the year that was 2020, with a deeper understanding of what these two, often interchangeable, words could mean, the narrative gains more relevance in the contemporary context. It is interesting to note at this juncture that this relevance is indeed achieved by using a recording of The Lonely Night, an educational film from the mid-twentieth century, against which the audio narrative of the film is plotted. 

Additionally, there is the attempt to align these ideas with the visuals of night. An experimental approach further allows it to lucidly exhibit the thought behind these visuals, ensuring that they all come together as a cohesive whole. However, the film does not simply present its engagement with isolation, but also takes it a step ahead to suggest that it is only one half of the same piece, only the darkness that precedes daylight. This, in turn, brings in a sense of hope for the viewer, irrespective of how overwhelmed or distanced we may have felt from those around us. 

All of these elements are put together in the mix to conjure a narrative of the emotional complexity that echoes inside you, often keeping you from truly feeling at ease with your surroundings, as you grapple with the overbearing questions within. However, the overarching message of the film remains one of hope, and of eventually finding the answers that you seek. The film simply presents its ideas, but does not take you deeper into them. The intention comes across beautifully, though it would be wonderful to see it as a longer, more adept project in the future with a closer analysis of its underpinnings.

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