Blue

Blue (2026) is a short film, set and filmed in Edinburgh. It is written and produced by Joe Dingwall, who also stars as the main protagonist, Sam. The story follows an actor (nicknamed Blue by his partner Kate) who takes a walk through Edinburgh with him as they reminisce about the place they met and went on to visit together. Their journey takes the story into flashbacks of their relationship struggles, as well as many lighter moments also. The audience can begin to understand the stress the relationship was under due to both parties being different types of artists, with desires to take opportunities to expand their careers whilst still prioritising each other. Towards the end of the film, we see Blue walk into an exhibition full of Kate’s paintings. A glass breaks and he turns; when he goes to face Kate again, she is gone.

This is a beautiful narrative about love and eventually loss. Understanding the dynamics of the protagonist’s relationship and its complexities, shared gradually throughout the course of the film was enjoyable. The couple walks through locations they have visited before the film flashes back to memories in those locations. This was an interesting storytelling device that allowed for an engaging non-linear structure.

Despite the performances of Blue (Joe Dingwall) and Kate (Jade Sylvester) being strong and emotionally fruitful, the chemistry of the pair was not always believable and their relationship felt like a jokey friendship a lot of the time. I found some areas of the scriptwriting cringeworthy but was also heart-warmed by many other scenes. The ending depicts Blue looking at the work of his past lover; he stumbles upon a blue painting, created for him. His eyes fill with tears as he admires the work of someone he used to know. Joe’s execution of reminiscing in this scene is extremely powerful; it is one of the most memorable scenes that showcase Joe’s talents as an actor.

The cinematography and colour grading of the film were crisp and professional; my only complaint would be that some scenes in certain locations felt too dark, but I can imagine the lighting in these locations was more difficult to control. When the main character, Joe, performs on stage, he is not in focus throughout, which unfortunately may take viewers out of the story. I also found that the montage of the pair towards the end was touching, yet slightly too long. The music assists the tone of each scene and was competent throughout. The use of many locations in Edinburgh was captivating and framed the city in a beautiful light.

Despite a few technical difficulties, Blue is a passionate film that draws on the human experience. The narrative is tender and has the ability to resonate with many audiences. It relishes in the genuine connection between people and the lasting impression these connections can leave on our lives.