Top 5: Short Films Of 2019
More than any other year here at Viddy Well, 2019 gave us the opportunity to review a lot of short films and even interview new and emerging filmmakers by phone and email. Since we’ve been watching a lot of short-form films, we thought we may as well recount our five films that really stood out the most to us and left a lasting impression.
5: The Maids Will Come on Monday
Watching The Maids Will Come on Monday (or Chamandy’s previous short, The Final Act of Joey Jumbler, which you can watch here), you would not suspect it to be the work of a filmmaker who’s not even old enough to legally drink. But that’s the magic of both of Harley Chamandy’s shorts; they sneak up on you with their meticulous, yet understated style and charm you with their surprising depth. At only 20 years old, Chamandy possesses a staggering maturity that’s well beyond his years. He exhibits a real knack for delivering the kind of stories that get you to think through their presentation and design, and he shows a lot of talent for creating intriguing situations that reward patient and attentive viewers. With solid performances and an incredibly interesting ending, The Maids Will Come on Monday effectively examines the hollow, lonely feeling that resides within even the most well-off, and its use of the holiday setting as a backdrop lends an added layer of resonance to the overall experience.
4: Ayaneh
Swedish Director Nicolas Greinacher topical drama, Ayaneh, is about rebelling against cultural norms, and it sticks with you long after it cuts to black. The simple gift of a bathing suit uproots the world of a Afghani refugee living in Sweden. Caught in the middle of honoring old-world believes and trying to integrate into a more open culture, the cultural dilemma Ayaneh poses is made all the more harrowing when you factor in the protagonist’s sexual orientation. The LGBTQ elements to the short add layers to Ayaneh’s situation, but they’re pushed firmly to the periphery where they stay out of focus.It’s a subtle way to intensify the stakes, and it gives Ayaneh’s struggle more justification; she’s not just fighting for the right to swim or wear a bathing suit, she’s fighting to be accepted for who she really is, and she’s tired of hiding. Events eventually boil to the point of eruption, but the narrative takes a soft poetic swerve in its conclusion, which gives Ayaneh’s story the perfect possible ending.
3: Snare
Madeleine Gottlieb’s father-son drama, Snare, is wickedly funny and also incredibly moving. Its story is completely engrossing, and it gives complex weight and some nice subversion to the father/son relationship. Madeleine Gottlieb gives the films such wonderful verve, and her tight direction coupled with editor (co-writer and actor) James Fraser’s precise cuts give the film a smooth pace and feel. The film has a personal quality to it, and at its heart it’s about people looking for support and expecting it to be there. The lead performances by Steve Rodgers and James Fraser are superb, and help to fully round the film’s experience. As Snare cruises toward its ending, it lands with a surprising amount of impact. It causes the viewer to see their father in a new light — maybe they’re not as square as we take them to be.
2: Little Hands
French writer/director Rémi Allier’s gripping and enchanting film, Little Hands, shares the story of a young child whose world changes in a flash, and it meditates on the violent tendencies of humanity and the powerful effect of a child’s innocence. Unique for sticking within the child’s POV throughout its entirety, the film effective shows the disarming power of a child’s innocence, and how it can dispell even the threat of violence. The film questions the violence of humanity, asking where it comes from and where it’s sourced? By asking big questions and keeping the narrative framed within a fixed perspective, Little Hands really makes the viewer sit back and reflect upon the world and the violent tendencies that seem so ingrained into the very fabric of humanity. Allier crafts a film that’s terrifying and tender, urgent, yet patient, with a story that instantly wraps you up and sticks to your skin.
1: Anima
The twitchy, persistent pulse and swirling, ethereal beauty of Anima’s soundscapes combined with the pretty narcotic drip of Yorke’s vocals feel right at home pressed against a quasi-futuristic, dystopian backdrop. When you add the singularly chic vision and technical mastery of Paul Thomas Anderson, you have near perfection. The short takes 3 of Yorke’s most immediately gripping new cuts (“Traffic,” “Not The News,” and “Dawn Chorus” respectively) as its backing track, and it tells a sweetly haunting story of longing with bold oddity and spellbinding style. PTA brings Yorke’s sonics into a new plane of existence, packing the narrative with mesmerizing oddity, an unmistakable elegance, and an inventive musicality. He wrings every ounce of awe and beauty out of his framing and visuals, which are elevated by Damien Jalet’s wonderfully inventive choreography and Tarik Barri’s visual art projections. It is aesthetically astounding with vibrant color and precise lens flares that bring the cinematography of Punch Drunk Love to mind. The story’s romantic leaning also evokes an emotional catharsis that’s similar to Punch Drunk, but that’s where comparisons stop; Anima ultimately becomes its own experience, one which feels just as vital as anything else Anderson has ever crafted, which is why it’s our favorite short film of 2019.
Welp, that’s our list! Did your favorite short make the cut?! We want to know. Share your thoughts and feelings in the comments section below, and as always, remember to viddy well!