It is once again time to look back at the past week and share what I have watched in terms of short films. This will be a shorter edition, consisting of for films, but the quality here is extremely strong. Ordering them from how I watched them, here are the short films I watched this week.
The Silent Child
Director: Chris Overton
Writer: Rachel Shenton
Starring: Rachel Shenton, Maisie Sly, Rachel Fielding
Synopsis: A deaf 4-year-old girl named Libby lives in a world of silence until a caring social worker teaches her to use sign language to communicate.
This is a short I’ve wanted to get to for a while now and I’m glad I watched it. This is a short that has a clear purpose, and hits that message extremely well. Not only that, but it hits emotionally and gives the full time to building this relationship and connecting fully to the lead characters. It’s hard not to be impacted when watching The Silent Child.
The Silent Child is available to watch on YouTube.
Rating: 4.5 out of 5.
Hair Love
Directors: Bruce W. Smith, Matthew A. Cherry, Everett Downing Jr.
Writer: Matthew A. Cherry
Starring: Issa Rae
Synopsis: When dad has to unexpectedly step in for mom to do his daughter Zuri’s hair before a big event, what seems like a simple task is anything but as these locks have a mind of their own!
This is a really well made short film from Matthew A. Cherry, and one that has a lot of fun whilst telling this story. It takes you on a journey, and yet it doesn’t play any of the traditional tropes to hit those emotions. Make sure to also watch through the credits, which are beautifully illustrated.
Hair Love is available to watch on YouTube.
Rating: 4.5 out of 5.
Dryer
Director: Connor Hurley
Writer: Connor Hurley
Starring: Shiloh Verrico, Julian Matias, Reniece Daniels
Synopsis: A summer afternoon: kids run wild & unsupervised, bullying seven-year-old Shiloh into a dangerous initiation ritual that will teach them all the fragility of life.
When it gets to the main section of the film, the initiation, there is so much tension built that the story is effective and you cannot help but be drawn in, wondering where the story is going to go. It does take a while to get to that moment, and there was something just about the film that didn’t work for me completely. However, this is a short and effective watch overall in terms of story, creating suspense, and filmmaking.
Dryer is available to watch on Short of the Week.
Rating: 3 out of 5.
Dolapo is Fine
Director: Ethosheia Hylton
Writers: Joan Iyiola, Chibundu Onuzo
Starring: Doyin Ajiboye, Luke Gasper, Joan Iyiola
Synopsis: Ready to leave her UK boarding school and enter the working world, a young Black woman faces pressure to change her name and natural hairstyle.
A really strong and empowering short film about the pressure placed on young women of colour to succeed and the expectation placed on them to adapt to the surrounding around them. This has a strong message portrayed by a well-written script and a fantastic lead performance. I do wish we got some further development of Dolapo’s friend, who does get cut short early, but the friendship does lead to the development of interesting ideas and some great one-liners that speak about the struggle that black women face in particular. A strong short film with a lot of heart and passion put behind it.
Dolapo is Fine is available to watch on Netflix.
Rating: 3.5 out of 5.
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