As You Wish

Spencer Anderson writes, produces, edits and directs this short psychological drama, starring Elliot Cable, Gillian Broderick and Natasha Robinson.

 

The plot: World War II is taking place and a young soldier named Peter (Cable) is at a carnival, where he visits Helen (Broderick), a fortune teller, hoping that she can reveal news regarding Sheila (Robinson), his beloved partner. Helen will do so, bringing to the surface revelations that will deeply distraught Peter.

 

The entire narrative of this six-minute-long film takes place inside a small tent, where the fortune teller puts her abilities to use and during this short running time, great acting, methodical filmmaking and creative mise-en-scene collaborate and create an atmosphere filled with tenderness, tension, and heavy drama.

 

The mise-en-scene effectively creates an environment that brings to life a Second World War setting, with Pete's uniform being one obvious aspect, along with Sheila's hairstyle and clothing. Signs of a fortune teller's workplace are present, and they include a crystal ball, tarot cards and the turban worn by Helen.

 

This story relies heavily on feelings, and Anderson frequently utilises close-ups of the protagonists' faces, effectively capturing their reactions and emotions in shots that are massively supported by Dan Abrams' wonderful cinematography.

 

Throughout the story, Peter is sat at Helen's table, with her sitting opposite him. Things start out relatively calmly, turning dramatic following a disclosure that deeply upsets the soldier, creating a rollercoaster of strong emotions as Peter fights hard to comprehend what he has just discovered. As the story progresses, the atmosphere changes, going from blissful to chaotic and melancholic, with Reg Length's music adding to the dramatic scenes. More on the audio, the methodical use of sounds of gunfire and shouting results in a harrowing battle scene that is experienced audibly.

 

The vast majority of this film revolves around Peter's state of mind, and Cable does an amazing job, vividly expressing his character's feelings, whether it is happiness, anger, or sadness. In her debut film role, Robinson impresses as a nineteen-forties young woman who has been reduced to a very distressing state following the separation from her partner. And Broderick is the fortune teller, a calm, patient, and understanding person.

 

This relatively short story manages to explore a number of significant themes, and they include war trauma, desperation, comfort, regrets, and painful revelations.

 

A World War II story. A romance. A tense and emotional film about a soldier battling with himself as he faces unexpected discoveries.