.png)
Written and Directed by Diana Galimzyanova
Starring Sara Luosta, Anna Andersson, Vladimir Ivanov, Jenna Laamanen
Short Film Review by Rachel Pullen
According to Wikipedia, a Minotaur is a bovine/ humanoid creature that lives in caves and tunnels avoiding the light, which shines towards evil which is amplified by their selfish attitudes toward life.
Yet despite my research into these creatures, there was little to no discussion about the female of the species...where are all the ladies at?
Russian director Diana Galimzyanova takes this Greek myth under her wing and delves into the mindset of the elusive female Minotaur, producing her latest horror short Minotauress.
Minotauress follows the story of a young woman who has come to a remote island in hunt of a Minotaur, with plans to kill it in order to achieve fame and wealth, she sets about her mission, but like all good horror films, it’s not long before the overwhelming vast forest causes her to get lost, that is until a seemingly innocent girl offers her help.
Of course this girl is a female Minotaur and is sick of these people invading her island in order to capture a monster and so manipulates the circumstance in order to preserve her secrecy.
Minotauress is just that, an invasion story, Galimzyanova awakens her audience to the fact that some things, some people are better off left alone, and that we do not always have the right to know every little thing about someone’s life or circumstance, and in this modern day, where we have the option to put our lives out in the public sphere, it should always remain that; an option.
The short film casts a mystical feel through its use of light and scenery, we are guided through a serene forest, sun breaking through the canopy, blissfully unaware of the morbid intentions of the lead role, and it’s this serenity that allows for the sense of mythology to ring present in this short film, an enjoyable and valuable factor that Galimzyanova chose not to avoid.
The performances from our two leading ladies manage to keep the story together but lack a sense of genuine urgency, they simply are "performances" rather than believable acts, and with some heavy dubbing over the actors' voices it’s easy to lose sight of the storyline due to these factors.
This short brings an interesting story to the table, but lacks in any kind of engagement, classing it as a horror I believe to be a bit of a leap, Minotauress deserves its place within the mythological genre where it could stand as an interesting addition but not one that kept me interested enough to watch it again. Enjoy the visuals because sadly it lacks everywhere else.
.png)
