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.

How We Play | Short Film of the Day

It is a cold, snowy night, the glumness only enhanced and pronounced by a sombre-looking man who carries a briefcase of paperwork. Making his way into a cafe, and quietly adding some alcoholic warmth to his hot beverage, he settles in a shadowy, isolated corner to work his way through the documents. 
 The film, so far, deliberately keeps you on your feet about what will come to form its core emotion and primary motivations. Would the consequent events be dramatic, thrilling, suspenseful or something altogether different? While the viewer grapples with the question, somewhere along the way they get introduced to a woman, a former college friend of the protagonist. After six years of not having spoken to one another, when Jacob and Lauren finally sit down with their drinks, the narrative truly begins to reveal its cards one by one. 
 A conversation about the past, its presence in the current moment, the nature of relationships, and more is invoked. The camerawork offers smooth visuals to further strengthen the endeavor. Lastly, at its conclusion, the final result, though not entirely minus some weaknesses, presents to you a sense of warmth found in the most unexpected and serendipitous circumstances.

A Missed Connection | Short Film Nominee

A boy is given the task of conjuring a fictional narrative that ropes in his own personal experiences and understanding of emotions. The short film endeavors a fun approach of taking us into the development of the said narrative by portraying for us the events as they come to be in the protagonist's imagination. 

 However, despite the lightheartedness of the tone, there is the suggestion of something disconcerting simmering right underneath the surface. The rest of the progression of the plot thus becomes a movement towards this point until the tension is finally allowed an expression, depiction as well as a chance at resolution and closure. 

 In the process, there is also the attempt to discuss loss, tragedy, the trauma that is left in its wake, the inability to cope to eventually finding the strength to accept it, but above all, the possibility of healing and hope. Further, Personal Narrative takes a stab at delineating the relationship between art and mental health and ties it all together in its final product to present to the viewer for them to engage with.

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