Hoku Uchiyama's ROSE is a short film with a beginning, middle and end. Yet in many ways, it plays like the first act of a feature length movie. This is to say, it leaves you wanting more, which is one of the greatest compliments I can pay to any short film.
I don't want to give away the story because I personally feel that ROSE is a movie best viewed by curious minds who have no knowledge of where things are going or how it will end. It is a movie of surprises and I will respect those surprises. I will only tell you that it is a story of friendship, of growing up, of making tough choices and accepting the risk that goes along with them. It is an incredibly mature story sprinkled with a bit of magic and mystery. It works on all levels.
Everything is framed in a world of desaturated colors, which not only lends itself to the magic quality of the story, but it also lends itself to the era in which the story is told. You "feel" like you are in that time and place...yet somehow you're not really sure what time and place you are in. Combined with the music, this provides the perfect mood.
The acting is superb on all levels. I'd be hard pressed to highlight one performance without feeling obligated to highlight all of them.
The writing is tight and solid...and it is enhanced by pitch perfect editing that keeps things moving forward while lingering long enough on the most important moments.
I've seen a lot of short films. I rarely feel compelled to write about any of them. Usually I can see the "actors acting." Usually I can hear the director saying, "Look at my cool camera work." Usually I notice a writer overplaying his/her words. But ROSE is definitely an exception to all those tendencies. It is a great short film with enough power to become a great feature. I commend Hoku and everyone involved with the project for allowing the story to be the star. I highly recommend this movie to anyone and everyone.
I don't want to give away the story because I personally feel that ROSE is a movie best viewed by curious minds who have no knowledge of where things are going or how it will end. It is a movie of surprises and I will respect those surprises. I will only tell you that it is a story of friendship, of growing up, of making tough choices and accepting the risk that goes along with them. It is an incredibly mature story sprinkled with a bit of magic and mystery. It works on all levels.
Everything is framed in a world of desaturated colors, which not only lends itself to the magic quality of the story, but it also lends itself to the era in which the story is told. You "feel" like you are in that time and place...yet somehow you're not really sure what time and place you are in. Combined with the music, this provides the perfect mood.
The acting is superb on all levels. I'd be hard pressed to highlight one performance without feeling obligated to highlight all of them.
The writing is tight and solid...and it is enhanced by pitch perfect editing that keeps things moving forward while lingering long enough on the most important moments.
I've seen a lot of short films. I rarely feel compelled to write about any of them. Usually I can see the "actors acting." Usually I can hear the director saying, "Look at my cool camera work." Usually I notice a writer overplaying his/her words. But ROSE is definitely an exception to all those tendencies. It is a great short film with enough power to become a great feature. I commend Hoku and everyone involved with the project for allowing the story to be the star. I highly recommend this movie to anyone and everyone.
