Make Believe

A short drama written and directed by Mike Clarke and starring Sophia Leanne Kelly, Anastasia Hesketh, Kelsey Dee and Jacob Anderton.

Shelly (Kelly), a young woman, lives with her daughter, Daisy (Hesketh) in England and things are very difficult as Shelly is facing major financial issues and cannot afford to pay her bills or even buy food. After Daisy tells her that she is hungry, the two of them embark on a journey around town, with Shelly visiting acquaintances, hoping that they will give her some money. As she constantly fails to get some cash, she gets more and more desperate and resorts to desperate measures in order to feed her daughter.

A hard-hitting drama that pulls no punches in depicting the struggles that are being experienced by a woman and her daughter. Operating a bit like a road movie, the screenplay follows Shelly and her child as they go from one place to the next and encounter vile individuals such as the drug-addicted partner of Shelly's friend and a group of obnoxious youths. The fact that a little girl finds herself in the presence of people and situations that she should not be anywhere near to is the main thing that makes this film so dramatic. Innocent Daisy lives in poverty, she is hungry and her mother cannot afford to feed her. Dressed as a princess, the child ends up in front of a drug addict, people using profanity and sees her mother perform an unspeakable act. Of course, the suffering that Shelly goes through adds significant value as it is very poignant, however, seeing a child go through such drama is devastating.

Regarding the technical aspects, Clarke directs very well and particular praise goes to the well-executed long takes that are utilised during the third act. The fact that there is almost no non-diegetic music adds realism to the film and the score that is added in the end makes the scenes quite dramatic.

Kelly delivers a very emotional performance as a single mother who is being brought to her knees by financial problems so huge that she is not even able to put food on the table. Not wanting her precious child to understand their unfortunate situation, she plays make-believe with her, pretending that things are better than what they actually are and preventing her from seeing the truth. Newcomer Hesketh portrays a sweet and innocent child who is unknowingly facing the harsh realities of poverty. Ultimately, it seems that Shelly and Daisy only have each other.

Evidently, this short is a commentary about the effects of poverty and how having no money leads to desperation and isolation. It is also a story about motherhood and about innocence being destroyed.

A sad mother-and-daughter story that holds nothing back when it comes to depicting the consequences of having no income. From start to finish, the atmosphere is melancholic and the ending is absolutely heartbreaking. This is not a pleasant viewing, what it is is an honest look into the lives of people who face financial difficulties.