Alone, Together
Directed by Josh Wright & Charlotte Clifton
Starring Yasmine Bettine, Tom Ransom
Released April 7th
Short films, for the most part, are exercises in transient creativity: fleeting glimpses of stories squeezed into brief running-times that compel, yet cannot deliver the lasting impact that feature-lengths can. This is not always a bad thing, however: Alone, Together is one of these films, and it’s all the better for it.
The film – as its title suggests – is an unorthodox love story, and the debut of writing/directing duo Josh Wright and Charlotte Clifton. The mishmash of styles on show is typified in the initial graphic match, as we come hurtling from an ethereal dream sequence following the love interest of the picture (Yasmine Bettine) into the social realist world of the protagonist (Tom Ransom). After awakening from his dream, we then follow the latter on his daily routine around the house; not the most compelling subject matter perhaps, but touches of unexpected humour – delivered with aplomb by first-time actor Ransom - serve to brighten up proceedings.
As our hero slumps down on the sofa in front of Jeremy Kyle, armed with a bag of cheese mix, it becomes clear that he is showing no signs of winning over the girl of his dreams. It takes a sleep-induced epiphany to stir him from his lethargy, and it is after this that the film shifts dramatically in both pace and tone.
An innovative montage sequence follows as the protagonist embarks on his quest. Here Wright and Clifton combine some accomplished cinematography with well-executed moments of comedy, making the scene a joy to watch, if a little rough around the edges. The lack of dialogue and subsequent focus on score works a treat, as is often the case with short films: Ransom’s character is a tad eccentric yet loveable, and the initial part of the montage, in which he fashions a card from scratch for his beloved, is particularly endearing.
While the ending leaves a little to be desired, both in construction and plot, there is enough on show in Alone, Together to suggest a bright future for the duo of Wright & Clifton. Forgivable mistakes, such as a lack of consistency in picture quality or less than impressive cases of match-on action do mar the film slightly, but take nothing away from its charm. It is encouraging to see that the pair haven’t fallen at the first hurdle.
Anticipation: Hardly the stuff dreams are made of, but a fairly interesting debut premise. 2
Enjoyment: Engrossing, well-formed, funny and a pleasure to watch. 4
In Retrospect – A promising, yet not mind-blowing start for two young filmmakers with a touch of style. 3
This adopts just the right tone I think, and is a very good stab at the house style of the magazine. Well done! I think you've been hard on yourselves though - I'd raise the first rating to 3 at least!
ReplyDeleteWhat's the word count? Are you up to the right amount? Is the layout draft here somewhere - I don't see it immediately.
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