Sunday 18 October 2020

FILM REVIEW: UK Shorts #2 - Bolton Film Festival


Two more short Uk produced films shown as part of Bolton Film Festival online.

1. Lucky Break -2019 - Dir: John Addis


This is easily the best and my favourite short of the films I have seen so far in this festival. At an all-night garage shop, a man, acting nervously and suspiciously collects a few bits and pieces and comes to the till. The girl has already pressed the panic button, but fortunately it seems, he is just a little odd and he pays for the goods in cash - too much cash. 

A comedy story ensues involving a lady customer and a couple of policemen. It's interesting, clever, witty and stylish and the acting from all, especially the cashier, is superb. To say more would ruin the story for anyone wanting to watch this film, and I recommend very highly you do. 

Even the use of background music was apt and well thought out. I'd have liked this to have been the trailer for an off-beat sit-com; but as it is it works perfectly as a stand-alone sketch.

Jessye Romeo (Oluaku - the shop assistant), Steve Oram (the man), and Diana Weston (the lady) need full credit for their roles here.

2. Our Sister - 2019 - Dir: Rosie Westhoff 


Using mostly natural sound and minimal dialogue (these things seem to be features of the current trend in filmmaking),  two sisters wake up one morning before school and we see 'With Sympathy' cards on the mantel. We soon learn that one of the sisters is a non-verbal autistic girl, and so at times there does seem to be shades of 'Rain Man' in the film - at least at the start. 

Three quarters of the way through this film we see the autistic girl go into a dance class and sit and wait for her sister to finish class. Only then do we learn that the sympathy cards were for the sister, and she isn't at dance class. It's the cathartic moment though as this simple act allows the two sisters to emote and let their grief out away from their parents.

Achanti Palmer and Lauren Corah do well as the two sisters and it is a moving and sympathetic story told with truth.

Reviewer - Matthew Dougall
on - 17/10/20

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