Diary of a Ghost

“ Our Story was meant to be longer than a year; it was meant to be a lifetime”.

This is a short film looking at grief and how one young woman, Sage Evans, is coping a year after her boyfriend’s death. This was her first love, and we see how she struggles as grief impacts every part of her daily life. She battles to keep him close but is overwhelmed by the reminders of what happened that tragic day. To cope, she writes chapters in her diary, which help bring her lost love to life. Is this healthy, or is this taking her down a dark hole? It is amazing what can trigger a memory: a sound, a picture or even a smell. The film shows all of this.

Genevieve Chenneour plays Sage Evans, and she does a remarkable job keeping the audience engaged. This is an achievement, as so much of the film focuses solely on her. With minimal dialogue, Chenneour successfully conveys the character’s sadness through her facial expressions and body language. Her actions make the audience feel the pain of loss as they follow her through every emotion. This powerful performance will speak to many who have experienced the pain of grief. Alfie Noble gives a sincere performance as Riley Leeks, the boyfriend who has been lost far too soon. He and Genevieve Chenneour have strong chemistry as they bring comfort and sadness to the main roles. His character delivers an important message that it is time to move on. There are disturbing moments, but they give the audience a gritty reality outside of Sage's mind.

Caroline Hajny directs and has experience developing stories with a female lead. In this film, she has created a beautiful story that will have a lasting effect on its audience. The locations support the actors’ portrayal of loneliness, and the close-up camera work helps the viewer understand how the main characters feel. The musical score is well chosen to reflect the sadness in each scene, particularly those involving Sage and Alfie. Music can play a pivotal role in emphasising emotions and developing a film's many layers.

Some words will leave an imprint on the audience, and that comes down to the writer's talent. Some of the script is pure poetry with a beautiful insight into how a person can feel when someone close has died. It is impossible to know what people are going through, and the writer delves into the loneliness that accompanies grief with a powerful closing message. The words are delivered softly but with conviction, making them even more thought-provoking.

I think every part of this film will tug at the heartstrings and allow viewers to reflect on their own feelings of loss and grief. The cast's performances are highly impactful and show that grief can affect everyone around you. Film can make a real impression and play an important role in people’s lives by giving them characters they can connect with. This film certainly does that.