There are some great things about Dermott's Quest --the opening scene at Dermott's boring job as a security guard for one, but there are moments that, for me, make this a mediocre short. The main problem is the writing. Some of the dialog is pretty bad, and even with someone as talented as Sarah Polley saying a clunker of a line doesn't make the line work. The script doesn't rise above cliche (the trick dream sequence is too obvious to work, for example). The story itself is interesting, and most of the film is enjoyable, so perhaps bringing in another writer or using a story editor could have made this a truly special film. The performances are good, particularly Polley as Gwen and Raoul Bhaneja as the leads, the cinematography is excellent, and there are some laugh-out-loud moments. This short looks really, really good --no information on the DP or the production designer listed here, which is too bad. I look forward to seeing more of Grimur Ardal's work.
Review of Dermott's Quest
