After Tomorrow
Not a reference to the apocalyptic weather but the title of a new short film I saw before a mixture of snow and alcohol saw me drop into a brief week of hibernation.
Produced by Screen East through their Digital Shorts programme “After Tomorrow” is written and directed by Emma Sullivan and produced by Annalise Davis and try as I might I can’t find it online anywhere yet so I can’t provide a link but I’m sure I will in due course.
It starts with actor Joseph Mawle waking up apparently amnesiac in what he presumes is a bed and breakfast. Mawle’s performance, big and bearded yet confused and vulnerable shares the engaging little boy lost effect that worked so well for Clive Owen in Children of Men.
“After Tomorrow” appears to take a similar low key science-fiction approach, which isn’t always the best thing for a short film. Indeed as the mystery of the characters seeming imprisonment deepens things start to get irritating. Some of the other performances seem odd, out of place and I’m all too used to watching sci-fi shorts that hold back an obvious idea in the futile attempt to create “mystery”. It all looks beautiful, the pacing gives it a tension and the stylish edit keeps it feeling energetic. But is that enough if no one knows what’s going on?
However, just when I was starting to think that my worst fears were to be confirmed and the whole thing would just be a picturesque study in moody confusion, Emma pulls a heart breaking change of gear which in a stroke justifies everything. A rare treat, topped off by a superb cameo performance by (I think) Anthony Taylor. There are few short films that put such a weight of narrative and emotional importance on a silent character, and fewer still that do so with such success. His single held look toward the end of the film not only explained the entire plot but it broke my heart and if that’s not a shining example of the power of cinema, then I don’t know what is.
katie February 25th, 2009 at 10:24 am
I thought this was great – i was intrigued from the beginning. The whole style of the film made me think something weird was coming but i wasn’t sure what – it’s got a great sense of tension throughout. Someone get a link online so you can watch it yourself!
Harley26 February 25th, 2009 at 1:10 pm
A friend took me to this film before christmas and I thought it was great. Totally agree with the comment that it begins to get irritating but then totally amazes with the reverse near the end. I won’t give the twist away but go see it, wherever you can.
MaC February 26th, 2009 at 4:40 pm
I saw this as part of the Digital Shorts Screening and loved it. It’s a ‘twist’ film that actually works – it had me guessing right until the end. Great performances, classy editing and skillfully directed.
Sarah March 1st, 2009 at 8:38 pm
I found this film incredibly touching. I can’t give away the story, but it was the first time I’d thought about a sense of terror and entrapment in this context. It’s also a theme which, within the next generation, will have affected every single person in this country.
I relished the unashamed portrayal of love and bewilderment that can’t be helped – in any sense – and it’s a film I’d like burned to DVD and sent to every home in the land (how’s that for blithe idealism?). If you haven’t seen it, you’ll probably understand why when you do.
Looby March 3rd, 2009 at 6:49 pm
Just the best short film I’ve seen EVER. Watching it was a really visceral experience – it’s a subject close to home for so many families…and you don’t know that this is the subject of the film until the very end. So clever. So classy. This director is one to watch out for.
Tim Ward March 13th, 2009 at 11:28 am
I saw After Tomorrow a couple of months ago and it has stuck with me since. I find that many short films try too hard to defy expectations by having some impacting, or subversive turning point and hope that that will stick with the audience. It is a testament to the director that After Tomorrow manages to pull this off and delivers a poignant finale, that, in lesser hands, would have risked coming across as trite. Kudos, too, should go to the performances, which deal with an important subject with great subtlety and tact.
I thoroughly recommend this beautifully shot, well structured film to anyone looking to learn something about making short films and hope to see more from this director.
Piero May 17th, 2009 at 9:05 am
AMAZING.
Ben’s Blog » Blog Archive » After Tomorrow Nominated For Palme D’Or May 25th, 2009 at 1:14 pm
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