Bread Winners

Bread Winners is an elusive and shapeshifting short film that is darkly comic and heart-poundingly intense.

 

The film opens with a phone call from Hank Carver (Barry Del Sherman) to the manager of a gun store chain, Wade Nelson (Pancho Norris). What begins with a seemingly normal query about a pistol recently purchased takes a menacing turn, as Carver reveals his connection to the store goes much deeper than a normal customer. A tragedy in his past drives him to place Wade in a terrifying predicament, toying with the manager as he reveals his true intentions.

 

Much like Hank Carver, Bread Winners enjoys toying with its audience, never settling into a consistent tone and repeatedly changing course and vibe in its short running time. This is not a negative – far from it. It is a strength of the film that guarantees audiences will remain glued to the screen as Hank and Wade’s conversation develops. Jumping between a dark comedy, an intense thriller and even revenge horror allows director Connor Haines to explore the story and its ramifications for his characters whilst also having fun with them and keeping the overall film just about light enough to find fun in.

 

Barry Del Sherman’s performance as Hank is standout. His gunslinger drawl conjures control, cool and cut-throat. But as his background and motivations become clearer, it is obvious that he is a man carrying a great deal of regret and guilt, and is using his contact with Hank as a way to lash out. The assumed outcome most viewers will be expecting is terrifyingly believable given the efforts both director and performer make to add life to Hank. Pancho Norris is similarly enjoyable as Wade - a forgettable store manager placed in an unforgettable dilemma. Norris’ ability to extract humour from Wade’s cowardice is another key piece of maintaining the lightness of the film.

 

Haines does an impressive job in creeping up tension throughout the film. It is no secret to the viewer from the get-go that Carver’s motives for ringing the store are sinister, but their real purpose is withheld until critical story moments. As his mental state is explored, the unpredictability of the story becomes gripping, as his background means any number of outcomes suddenly become possible. The twin settings of Carver’s confined vehicle (parked in an undisclosed location) and Wade’s office (where he balances the life-and-death nature of his call and the unknowing tomfoolery of his coworkers) makes the second half even more engaging.

 

Bread Winners may not comfortably fit any traditional category, but it is undeniably memorable and electrifying. Some may find its topic uncomfortable or even unfit for humour, but those who enjoy some darkness will be enthralled by this daring short.

Watch our Video Film Review of Breadwinners on YouTube.