‘Mirage’ is a skilfully executed film, free-flowing and effortless in the visual progression of the events. The story talks of love, intimacy, betrayal, and infidelity. However, the most important of all the entities on the emotional spectrum of the film is nostalgia, something that acquires a substantial presence within the narrative in the form of a drug that allows you to revisit the joys of the past when you take it. 

Adam and Loli navigate the many complexities of their relationship which seems on the brink of collapse, and the film comes into being. The performances and screenplay support it notably, presenting a young filmmaking voice with immense promise. 

Addiction, memory, intimacy, and the fallout of deep love turning into deep hurt all unite as one in this endeavor which remains heartfelt throughout. The question that remains central to the narrative, however, is — can drowning yourself in the thought of what once was, save you from the consequences of your actions in the swiftly unraveling present?

Mirage | Short Film of the Day

A man and woman sit across the table from each other on a date. The woman is clearly uneasy in the circumstance, not really enjoying the manner in which the conversation is unfolding. The situation is plain and direct, and yet, before the viewer can conclude it thus, the most strange development occurs within the plot - the presence of an unexplained television set that haunts the protagonist. 
 
Alongside this seemingly omnipresent entity, Meg’s love life moves ahead, but not in a direction desired by her. After several attempts to avoid her date’s calls, she reluctantly agrees to meet him again, while the foreboding presence of the screen continues to become more overwhelming. 

Whether you want to read the narrative as a parable of modern day dating, insecurities, acceptance and identity, or a woman’s inability to say no, or of a person seeking comfort outside heteronormative structures, it could perhaps mean all or none of them. Consequently, if one were to attach their own meaning to each symbol and metaphor, ‘Loom’ would be a difficult film to unpack, and thus, it should be consumed as the surreal ride it is, marked not only by elements of sci-fi and psychological horror, but also the absurd when you least expect it.

Loom | Short Film of the Day

Darkness of the human mind is a concept which remains as vast and endless as it is fascinating. After introducing us to a protagonist who is seemingly alone in his house, the film establishes the same proposition as its thematic concern. Marked by a complete absence of dialogue, we are taken into a world where strangely disconcerting noises abound. 

The immediate reality of the sole character is constituted by jarring screams, troublesome shadows and all kinds of unknown dangers that lurk in the dark. The film does a notable job of conjuring all of these demons out of nothing by simply making a judicious use of sound and by adopting a controlled, calculated approach to withholding information only to reveal it gradually. In the process, the viewer is left with an emphatic comment about the monsters that predominate the existence within more than without. 

The plot speaks of the trauma of a recent tragic event and the manner in which it can influence and mould a person's life. The battle between the forces of despair and darkness and of hope, light and moving forward is allowed a metaphorical portrayal in Awake in the Dream, further enabling it to share its intentions with the audience in a neat, distinct manner.

Awake in the Dream | Short Film of the Day

The deliberate choice to stick to a monochrome palette immediately invokes a sense of noir within the universe of the film, a characteristic that soon comes to enhance the subject matter it deals with. Next, the narrative shares with us an exchange in the life of the protagonist soon after he receives a seemingly important phone call. However, this is not a regular exchange for it is not shared with another person, but with his own fractured psyche. 
Anthony's dissociative identity disorder is thus presented to the viewer by delineating his interaction with Tony, a malicious entity that exists within his own consciousness. The film uses the same, limited physical space to weave its story, further exhibiting an economical employment of the resources available at hand, with the sole performance evidencing devotion and sincerity to bring the character to life.
 Albeit a few rough edges, which can easily be smoothened out in future projects by the lean, but committed cast and crew, the overall result is one marked by a dedicated endeavor of sharing the story while, at the same time, making a well-intentioned comment about someone who might battle the said disorder.

Mirror Mirror | Short Film Nominee

The short film has been put together as a final product with its cast and crew members in different countries, and that indeed should be noted before the viewer begins to engage with it. The story deals with several concerns that are linked to grief, loss and the consequent guilt that gets left behind in their wake. A woman enters a strange room to find herself talking to a disembodied voice that emanates from an unusual device resembling a speaker of sorts. As she progresses deeper and deeper into the room, things get more complex and disconcerting. The conversation, in an unexpected fashion, comes to pivot itself around her new shoes, while the narrative offers a glimpse into her relationship with her father simultaneously. It is then an exploration of all of these elements and how they are eventually tied together by the film that become its core intentions.

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