Length: 01:47
Rating: ★★★★☆
Logline: A suicidal man contemplates life and loss with an like-minded stranger.
This cleverly titled piece is worth a look as an example of how one minute can easily be enough time to deliver a satisfying story. This film is cleverly paced in such a way as to give ample set up without dialogue, clearly indicating mood, has sparing yet effective dialogue, a tonal change and leaves you wanting to know more (in a good way).
It's a drama as it's neither comedy or tragedy but is it dramatic? In this case no, but I'd argue it doesn't have to be. It's a glimpse at a moment of both desperation and sweetness. Ben Loyd-Holmes plays the guy that has ended up on the edge of a cliff but clearly doesn't want to jump off it. We didn't need him to tell us (watch out for the on the nose dialogue there) we can see it in his actions. Hedydd Dylan is the spectre who lightens the atmosphere and shows good on screen chemistry between them. You'll have to attribute Ben's complete lack of surprise to finding someone right next to him after roaming a deserted field to him being too worried about topping himself.
Atmosphere is aided by both the delicate piano music on the soundtrack and the juxtaposition of close-ups and spacious wide shots. I don't know if it's just me though, but a couple of shots had a real superimposed look to them, as though no one wanted to stand at the edge of a cliff (don't know why?) so have been digitally added on. All that aside, like the characters, the audience is also left teetering on the edge as we are left without a decisive conclusion to whether he jumps or not. Damn Linzey, making us use our own imaginations like that!
This cleverly titled piece is worth a look as an example of how one minute can easily be enough time to deliver a satisfying story. This film is cleverly paced in such a way as to give ample set up without dialogue, clearly indicating mood, has sparing yet effective dialogue, a tonal change and leaves you wanting to know more (in a good way).
It's a drama as it's neither comedy or tragedy but is it dramatic? In this case no, but I'd argue it doesn't have to be. It's a glimpse at a moment of both desperation and sweetness. Ben Loyd-Holmes plays the guy that has ended up on the edge of a cliff but clearly doesn't want to jump off it. We didn't need him to tell us (watch out for the on the nose dialogue there) we can see it in his actions. Hedydd Dylan is the spectre who lightens the atmosphere and shows good on screen chemistry between them. You'll have to attribute Ben's complete lack of surprise to finding someone right next to him after roaming a deserted field to him being too worried about topping himself.
Atmosphere is aided by both the delicate piano music on the soundtrack and the juxtaposition of close-ups and spacious wide shots. I don't know if it's just me though, but a couple of shots had a real superimposed look to them, as though no one wanted to stand at the edge of a cliff (don't know why?) so have been digitally added on. All that aside, like the characters, the audience is also left teetering on the edge as we are left without a decisive conclusion to whether he jumps or not. Damn Linzey, making us use our own imaginations like that!
Best Bit: It's okay, she's not a stalker - "I didn't follow you"
Worst Bit: Couple of shots have a bad superimposed look.
Final thought: Will he or won't he?
Read a condensed review of this film on Twitter here.
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