Remembrance Day (2016) User Reviews

Gritty Short

[Annie4748 · 9/10 · 22 February 2018]

Some short films can take a while to get going or sometimes they can drag unnecessarily. Remembrance Day is none of the above and packs a fast gritty punch of brilliance.

The main character delivers much intrigue and as much as you want to despise him there's a stroke of empathy which you wouldn't expect and that comes from a joint collaboration of the acting and the very well written story which is demonstrated throughout.

Acted superbly and realistically by all the key roles who make you believe in all their relationships and leave you wanting more.

Intense, deep and a true nod to real life drama.

Everything you want in a short, take note everyone!

A tense urban drama, with excellent actors and believable dialogue.

[saintjean-1 · 8/10 · 13 February 2018]

Far right racist Frank Wilcox is released from jail after serving ten years for an act of arson but still protests his innocence. Actor Brian Croucher has his character down to a tee. You can sense his unease about how he will be received in the community on his release and much of the viewer's insight comes during his interview with a journalist in the opening scene.

The acting is first class in every department, with investigating officers KerryAnn White (DS Murphy) and Robert Walters (DC Terry Rollins) particularly believable as no-nonsense urban cops with differing views on Frank's innocence.

The scene where DC Terry Rollins bumps into some youths who used to bully him at school is a tense turning point in developments (these same youths had also sought retribution on Frank for his racism). However, it's unlikely a hard-nosed cop would have folded so easily against their threats, even if he still had those memories of being bullied. It's a difficult job and would have hardened him considerably, so his authority wouldn't have waned so easily regardless of their reputation in the local area. But the scene is acted well despite this.

The ending of the film is well directed and well written with the viewer left guessing about the fate of a beaten cop and Frank's future outside jail, with little pointers here and there rather than an overly tidy ending.

A gripping delight

[Annie4748 · 9/10 · 13 February 2018]

Some short films can take a while to get going or sometimes they can drag unnecessarily. Remembrance Day is none of the above and packs a fast gritty punch of brilliance. The main character delivers much intrigue and as much as you want to despise him there's a stroke of empathy which you wouldn't expect and that comes from a joint collabaration of the acting and the very well written story which is demonstrated throughout.

Acted superbly and realistically by all the key roles who make you believe in all their relationships and leave you wanting more.

Intense, deep and a true nod to real life drama.

Everything you want in a short, take note everyone!

A thoughful, complex, chilling portrayal of prejudice with amazing performances.

[Rolling1278 · 8/10 · 5 February 2018]

Being a regular attendee of the British Urban Film Festival, it was at last years 'short' season (2017) where I saw this film, 'Remembrance Day'.

It begins, fairly innocuously, in a public house somewhere in London, where ageing and recently released prisoner Frank Wilcox (Brian Croucher) is interrupted mid-booze by an eager young journalist. Convinced there is a scoop to be had about Franks former far-right activities and the fact he may actually have been framed for the racial attack he has just served ten years for, she encounters a wall of silence. Enter Kofi and Rico, the latter seeking revenge on Frank for his alleged bullying and racist taunts of his father years before. The plot quickly takes a sharp U-turn as detectives Murphy and Rollings cruise the local estate seeking to solve a recent murder which lead them to Franks door . .

I had no idea of the story of this short film (nor any of the other entrants) so was amazed at how engaging this became in it's first two minutes. Veteran actor Brian Croucher delivers a nice performance as the central character, although admirable and stand out support is given by the entire cast. With a running time of only 17 minutes, this film does not dither with its plot development and races along at breakneck speed to the shocking conclusion which left this viewer certainly wanting more!

Special mention was given to the writing of this film at BUFF, with the dialogue particularly authentic and real. A few of the scenes were totally improvised by the cast which only adds to the air of gritty realism - although you'd never know which scenes were and were not scripted.

Whenever film makers decide to tackle a subject as relevant and serious as racism there is usually some underlying morality strand which can leap out at the viewer with the subtlety of a sledgehammer - 'Remembrance Day' does not follow suit. It allows the viewer to decide their own views on the subject and make up their own minds. This is where it excels. It does not preach yet all the points are made and from several perspectives. Add to that an uncertain ending which indicates that maybe, sometimes, we just never learn.