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★★★
Directed by: #WeissMajewski
Written by: Weiss Majewski, #JurijusMajauskas, #DanielOrlovski
Starring: #PavelMajauskas, Weiss Majewski
Conceived and created by Weiss Majewski, The Case is a short film that explores suspense, suspicion and scrutiny – whilst there is confusion over what is actually occurring.
Set entirely on an abandoned-looking farm, Pavel Majauskas plays the part of a solitary man who seems to almost exist outside of the real world. He is a seemingly simple man, yet appears unsettled within his own home, always on edge, staring out of the window. This all becomes clear when a man in a suit (Majewski himself) arrives and entrusts the protagonist with a case. In equal measures of unsettling drama and quiet mystery, viewers are thrown into scenes of intense questioning and puzzlement over what exactly is in the case.
The score to this film is what makes it stand apart. At the beginning, it has a feel to it that resembling ‘Stranger Things’ in its choice of electro-synth-like music that continues throughout. Music cuts in and out continuously, from a sci-fi vibe to the sharp, unsettling noises of elements such as animals, ripping paper and radio static. These loud intermissions maintain high levels of intensity throughout; the varying textures of sound creates a multi-layered creepy atmosphere to the film. As a viewer, you never feel quite at ease with the cutting in and out of sound, making for an unsatisfying, yet fascinating, watch.
#Cinematography, too, provokes discomfort and awe in equal measures. The camerawork is intense and purposeful, whilst still managing to maintain an ingenious and creative flair. Camera operators Weiss Majewski and Jurijus Majauskas do well in including varying camera shots and different camera angles within a scene to immerse the audience fully. It makes the film feel uncomfortable and almost alien at times. Daniel Orlovski’s lighting techniques fashions each scene to adopt incredible contrasting colours, each shot simultaneously eerie and technically effective. This, with jump-cut editing, adds to the feel of never being allowed to quite feel an emotion before being untimely ripped into the next scene – physically, even, as the protagonist tears each day from the calendar.
At first, lack of dialogue is effective and makes for even more uncomfortable viewing. It works as a film without words, as other elements make up for it. However, after the first several minutes, there is dialogue dubbed over the actors speaking. This unfortunately takes the viewer out of the suspense, as the two actors speaking is not at all necessary and the story could do without it – because either way, there is no clarity.
The object in question looks like a laptop bag, but what exactly it contains and the consequences of opening it, remains unclear to the viewer. The uncertainty continues, violence randomly inserting itself, making it near-comical. It prompts questions over what the story is and what relationship the characters have to each other. The story ends confusedly, prompting consideration over if the film perhaps has a greater focus on editing and production, than it does plot.
The Case is ultimately a very well-produced film and it will be exciting to see how the film is received. It could do with several small elements of production, such as the dialogue situation, being tidied up to make for a completely immersive experience. Above all else, it will be great to see more of what Weiss Majewski makes in the future.
The Case is currently available to rent on the UK Film Channel - click the image below to go there now.
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