The Annual Bolton Film Festival has turned this year to the medium of online broadcasting, which, for films, is an easy leap to make, and it also makes it easier for the viewer, who has access to the films for a 48 hour period. There are about 200 films being shown this year as well as talks and seminars running online too. The films are categorised and bungled into managable packages of viewing between 60 - 100 minutes each time, all the films in these bundles being of the same genre. Here I saw films from the UK Shorts classification.
1. Father Of The Bride - 2019 - Dir: Rhys Marc Jones
The young brother of the groom and Best Man is sexually assaulted in the toilets by the bride's father. This is just before the speeches and he has to now listen to the father of the bride's speech and then give his own. He is now somewhat nervous about this as the experience has unnerved him. However, the alcohol takes over and has dramatic consequences.
A good mix of shots and focus, giving the viewer at least three differing perpectives of the situation. It works well as a short, but could even be extended with this being the beginning of a longer drama. Nicely done and well acted.
2. 3 Minutes Of Silence - 2020 - Dir; Ben Price
A Moss Side (Manchester) boxing gym becomes the refuge for a young girl who has difficulty with communication, making friends etc. She is a very good fine artist and draws chalk pictures with mature skill. She gifts a drawing to an older girl she sees at the bus stop who goes to the boxing gym, and so starts an unusual and unlikely friendship. The film's slow pace and minimal dialogue allows us to understand more carefully the feelings of both girls as we realise neither are really happy and have 'issues'.
Performed by Bella Ramsey and Molly Wright this film is just beautiful. At 15 minutes it is the ideal length for the story to unfold, and as the relationship between the two girls develops, their awkwardnesses lessen and bring hope. A delightfully poignant and well acted film.
Reviewer - Matthew Dougall
on - 17/10/20
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