*SPOILER ALERT*
Prepare to laugh, almost cry, and cling to the edge of your seat in this dark comedy that takes a sinister turn.
Directed by M J McMahon, this film follows Sam, a young boy with a great interest in plants. The complexity of such a young character is brilliant to see and developed even more so by actor Joe Reynolds' depth of emotions. The character lives in a flat overlooking a dead, overgrown allotment and is in search of his next growing space. Norman, played by Brian Cox is a grumpy old man with no interest in life. He owns the allotment that Sam overlooks. The relationship between the two is very dysfunctional and begins with Sam sneaking in to take it over.
Within this drama the boundary of both life and death is crossed multiple times. Cox perfectly expresses the tired of life attitude that has taken over Norman, a character who has lost all of his loved ones and has nothing to live for. This is crossed with the sprightly attitude of young Sam, who lives to sow seeds and has a caring mother by his side to encourage him.
The sharp vivid shots are incredible in this film. Set in the bustling city of London, Phil Meheux tends to use fast paced tracking shots when Sam is in the scene suggestive of youth and playfulness, contrasting with slower, still shots when Norman is onscreen. The score also follows suit here, the harmonic melody being joyful and faster for Sam yet melancholy for Norman.
When the plot shockingly twists into a dark comedy, Sam's naivety and lack of father figure is evident when he takes Norman's death wish literally. This twist definitely works in the film, as it comes with his prior conversation about overdoses with his Mum, however it is a little strange that his Mum did not school him on the bad effects of an overdose and punish him post attempting to do this to another. Other than this the story is exquisitely written, and both cast and crew made this short into a masterpiece.
Writer Natalie Malla smoothly brings this narrative together, using the contrasting characters to emphasise the idea that not all is bad, sometimes to regrow and blossom can do one the world of good, with a lot of care and attention of course.
Prepare to laugh, almost cry, and cling to the edge of your seat in this dark comedy that takes a sinister turn.
Directed by M J McMahon, this film follows Sam, a young boy with a great interest in plants. The complexity of such a young character is brilliant to see and developed even more so by actor Joe Reynolds' depth of emotions. The character lives in a flat overlooking a dead, overgrown allotment and is in search of his next growing space. Norman, played by Brian Cox is a grumpy old man with no interest in life. He owns the allotment that Sam overlooks. The relationship between the two is very dysfunctional and begins with Sam sneaking in to take it over.
Within this drama the boundary of both life and death is crossed multiple times. Cox perfectly expresses the tired of life attitude that has taken over Norman, a character who has lost all of his loved ones and has nothing to live for. This is crossed with the sprightly attitude of young Sam, who lives to sow seeds and has a caring mother by his side to encourage him.
The sharp vivid shots are incredible in this film. Set in the bustling city of London, Phil Meheux tends to use fast paced tracking shots when Sam is in the scene suggestive of youth and playfulness, contrasting with slower, still shots when Norman is onscreen. The score also follows suit here, the harmonic melody being joyful and faster for Sam yet melancholy for Norman.
When the plot shockingly twists into a dark comedy, Sam's naivety and lack of father figure is evident when he takes Norman's death wish literally. This twist definitely works in the film, as it comes with his prior conversation about overdoses with his Mum, however it is a little strange that his Mum did not school him on the bad effects of an overdose and punish him post attempting to do this to another. Other than this the story is exquisitely written, and both cast and crew made this short into a masterpiece.
Writer Natalie Malla smoothly brings this narrative together, using the contrasting characters to emphasise the idea that not all is bad, sometimes to regrow and blossom can do one the world of good, with a lot of care and attention of course.