By Kyle Flynn

Live-Action Shorts:

Butcher’s Stain:

Amongst the batch of live-action shorts this year. Butcher’s Stain may be the only one to make me so frustrated, a compliment to the film’s narrative and writing. The emotional reaction I had to seeing a wrongful accusation, and how it coincided with the reveal of what spurred the accusation, made this a memorable film for me. The performance from Omar Sameer was a vivid exploration of the character. The film’s final shot is reason enough for everyone who enjoys art to see it.

3.5/5

Jane Austen’s Period Drama: 

As a life-long Jane Austen purist, I had some hesitation going into any type of satirical Jane Austen film. This delightful short succeeds as a funny, tongue-in-cheek look at the patriarchal structures of the time of Austen, structures she often reflected in her novels. Centering the narrative around having a period made the creative’s conscious effort far more noticeable in how committed the screenplay is to its established tone and the Jane Austen world.

3.5/5

A Friend of Dorothy: 

When a young man becomes companions with an older lady, what type of story do you believe will come from that? A Friend of Dorothy is too a fault so safe, and predictable, that I was able to map out the entire story within the first two minutes of the short. It wraps the bow on the box in a cute enough way to make me think the filmmakers were aware of how this play and chose to lean into it, but I can’t say I got anything out of the film. The acting in the film leaves a lot to be desired. The grandson character plays an arrogant one, and this surface-level character feels so rigid at every point he is on screen. Our two main characters are being played well, but not particularly notable. 

2/5

The Singers:

Sometimes all you need is a very simple concept to make something uniquely its own. The Singers is so warm. The subtext of each song chosen resonated with me. The direction from Sam Davis and the use of contrast and framing throughout this short is stellar. It surprised me how much I connected with this film. 

4/5

Two People Exchanging Saliva: 

It’s hard to make a surrealist film; it is even harder to make a surrealist short film. Two People Exchanging Saliva imagines a world where kissing is punishable by death. With strong performances throughout the film and an excellent screenplay. It manages the make me believe in this world. The film was complemented by black-and-white cinematography, an intentional choice that fit well with the expansive, yet grim, nature of the story.

3.5/5