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★★★★
Directed By: #JesseEdwards
Written By: #JesseEdwards
Short Film Review by: #ChrisBuick
At the time of writing this, we are for sure, living in the strangest and most difficult period of history that mankind has faced in recent times. Over the last few months, COVID-19 has forced us almost permanently into our homes, away from friends and loved ones and placed a huge question mark over the future of the global economy. And we’re scared. None of us can say when we might finally see the other side of this, or what kind of world we will be left with when we do. But the most vital thing we all need to remember is that while we are all scared, we are not alone, and we all can and should always be there for each other, no matter the distance between us.
Short film Distance, written and directed by #filmmaker Jesse Edwards and produced by Evolve Studios, is here to try and remind us of that important message. What they have delivered is an honest and poignant depiction of the current mood of the planet which as they put it, is also living through a different sort of pandemic, a pandemic of fear, but while also trying to provide an inspiring tale of hope.
The #shortfilm starts with all the drama and pace reminiscent of the trailer or opening sequence to your typical summer blockbuster, scattered news segments, ominous music and dramatic phone calls. But while these may be your disaster film clichés, the difference here is that they are in fact simply echoing the surreal drama we’ve all witnessed over the last few months. We see many of the all too familiar scenes, panic buying, empty supermarket shelves (toilet paper gets its special mention) as well as worryingly rising statistics. The questions and subsequent rumours and misinformation that we have all asked and heard (and at times clung to) are also present. Who is more at risk? What happens if I show symptoms? What exactly are the symptoms? What’s going to happen to our jobs?
All of these fears are personified in such clarity by the films characters, each one a manifestation of the conflicting daily thoughts occupying our heads.
There is the part of us trying to put on a brave face for our families such as parents Sharon (Garrison) and Matt (Jeff Sievers), who himself has just lost his company. Their son Jared (Smith) is the part of us that screams in fear that we don’t know anything. But in an impressive debut, Sasha Sievers Josie is the little voice inside us that we need to try and push to the front of our minds, the one that tells us that we can get through this, together.
It’s an impeccably put together piece of filmmaking as well, some beautiful camerawork really helps the emotion of the film make its full impact. There are moments where the drama just seems to boil over clumsily though, the scoring in particular is a constant resounding presence that overpowers at times. And despite some near perfect performances from the whole cast there are missteps; for example Matt nor his family not seeming overly distraught when telling them he just lost his entire company but one can accept that when it’s all in service of serving the bigger message
Not an easy watch at times and may land a little too close to home for some. But Distance may well be one of the pivotal go-to cinematic references when humanity looks back on this extremely difficult time. For now, it is a sorely needed message of hope and an important reminder that we are all in this together.
Stay home. Stay safe.
Watch the trailer here:
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