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★★★★
Directed by: #MatthewHill
Starring: #RosieFrecker, #JamesKirk, #PaulinaLejon
Opening in a woodland setting that reminds of the realistic post apocalyptic-esque wilderness of the earlier moments in this year’s excellent #JohnKrasinski horror A Quiet Place, Faith comes to further remind of that film in part as it remains dialogue free for its brief but eventful duration. I always admire films that restrain the dialogue, as the actors have to work very hard to tell a story through physicality, and for that matter so do the #filmmakers. Faith manages to do just that and, even if it feels purposefully incomplete, it leaves you eager to see more.
Writer/director Matthew Hill evokes The Hunger Games at points, in a film that has a backstory veiled in #mystery; instead he opts to simplify his wordless narrative as the story sees Faith (Rosie Frecker) travelling through the woods and happening upon the brutal aftermath of a conflict, before realizing she is now an unwilling target herself. With small hints at a larger story, this sci-fi infused action/thriller is a concise burst of suspense and ripe for future development.
The quality of the shooting, Raffy Tsakanika’s make-up and the action makes Faith feel at home on more on a cinema screen and it is a rare occasion that you would have been quite happy to see a full feature rather than a short but here that is very much the case. DOP Austin Hill gives the film a natural and stripped down setting and it marries well with some intense music work from Giuseppe Alfano, which comes into effect when Hill turns on the action.
The central plot feels like one piece of a puzzle in creating a larger world and the symbol that appears on multiple characters hands, as well as the shady mask-clad infantry pursuing an – as yet untold – device leaves much to build upon and leaves the viewer generally intrigued by what comes next. Undoubtedly more is to follow but if this is actually an entire plot, the details given string together well enough to create a vague but beautiful little world, with all manner of theory that can be applied to this story of survival against an overpowering and oppressive force. Not to mention a neat calling card for this talented team.
ABOVE: the official movie trailer for Faith.
The costumes feel polished and real and the characters, while not detailed, fit into this survivalist tale nicely. The best of the cast is the resilient and enduring Faith - a traveller clearly part of a larger cause - portrayed by Rosie Frecker really well, as the actress captures a very human sense of survival instinct in a horrible predicament. She is also joined by the strong support of James Kirk and Paulina Lejon in this dystopian work that leaves the door open for more mythos building and in the process establishes – in a very short time – some tough lead characters.
Matthew Hill clearly has a plan here and the level of the work on display is impressive, feeling slickly delivered and very professional and accomplished. I personally hope there is more to come from the world of Faith, as I really do, ahem, have a lot of faith in it. Faith is a very well delivered and entertaining short film that comes from a talented crew, who deserve to have a bright future in filmmaking.
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