FILM REVIEW: Cautionary Tales - by Us / Academy films

Whilst we are all self-isolating and despite the beautifully warm sunshine, still having to stay indoors, we are all searching for more and different forms of entertainment. One way of course is Youtube, but a simple search for 'inspiring / award-winning British short films' brought this 6 minute short to the top of my playlist, and so I gave it a go.

Written and directed by Us, a collective of talented creatives, this already lauded film tells a fairystory / fable-like tale with real sensitivity and a modern twist. A young man, Aaron (played by Ross Hatt) was 8 years old when he pulled a funny face at his mum, and his face just stuck in that position ever since. Now he is an adult and has difficulty joining in with the world around him, and the world around him is often hostile or dismissive of him for his obvious disability. He hides in shadows and is miserable. He attends a group therapy session for the first time, and meets there an array of others with physical deformities.. all based on Old Wives' Tales or sayings your parents may once have told you [ a blind man because he wouldn't stop touching himself / a lady who told lies and so her nose grew like Pinocchio etc ] and even in this situation he feels uncomfortable, despite the calming manner of the group therapy leader.

He is about to leave, when a latecomer burts through the door, a young lady with exactly the same physical deformity as Aaron, and of course they instantly connect.

There is much to be drawn and discussed from this film about subjects such as 'integration', 'equality', 'ableism', 'anapirophobia' and the other Old Wives' Tale that states that there is a special somebody out there for everyone; however, these discussions can wait for another day.

Beautifully filmed and excellently crafted, one can easily see why this film has attraced so many accolades, and the soundtrack - a haunting piece of music by Half Moon Run - fits perfectly. Producer Medb Riordan made a wise choice in backing this film, it shows real susceptivity and sympathy, allowing the characters to be real without over sensationalising or falsely drawing on the audience's intuitions.

Reviewer - Matthew Dougall
on - 25/3/20