Shadowscan (2001) User Reviews

Excellent BAFTA-winning short on the subject of stress and depression

[profanitarium · 21 September 2002]

I saw this short film on Channel 4 in the UK recently and was amazed. It looks superb, helped in part by being in Anamorphic. In fact, the cinematography is stunning, and actually seems to help tell the story, bringing out the best of the location in a way that most short films don't (or can't, because of budgetary reasons). The hospital seems dark and soulless, the type of place where someone might feel depressed. There's a beautifully shot sequence where the two main characters wander the hospital corridors and store rooms, basically having a laugh to cheer themselves up. It's strikingly juxtaposed with the moment when Amir reveals that he is depressed, as it emphasizes the dramatic mood swings depressed people go through in such a short time. And of course Paul Bazely's performance is spot on. Anyone who has ever suffered from depression will know what an amazing performance this is. When we see a tear rolling down his cheek and realise that Satinda will never see just how bad he feels is deeply affecting. This is the kind of directing one sees less and less of these days - simple scene staging, revealing to the audience something the other characters can't see. Hopefully it won't be too long before Tinge Krishnan gets a chance at a feature.

Powerful short film with big message

[motta80-2 · 9/10 · 12 March 2001]

It is unfortunate that I cannot discuss the message of this short film without giving the plot away. At about 11 minutes long this is an accomplished short film (which one the BAFTA award for best short film) about the pressures faced by those in the medical profession and how different people deal with it.

Minor spoilers in next paragraph. Should not give anything away, but skip over if you want no idea as to what the is about:

Two main characters struggle with their lives, trying to help and console each other. However below the surface the truth (the strength and determination of one, the mental collapse of the other) bubbles up and new challenges must be faced.

Spoilers end

The film has an impressive narrative structure bringing the viewer into the lives of these characters, giving an understanding of their world and hitting you with everything it has all in about 10 minutes. It is impossible not to admire a writer/director who can create so masterfully a story of this power in so short a time when numerous features are incapable of doing so. The acting is strong from the two leads, but it is the vision of the director that stands out. The claustrophobic set pieces add to the mounting desperation of the piece and the photography is beautiful to behold in an ugly world.

Tinge Krishnan should be a talent to watch. Expect her to appear on upcomers lists and let us hope that a feature debut is not too far behind. If the chance arises to catch this short masterpiece you should. A piece that proves you don't need 90 minutes and a star to make quality cinema.

Brilliantly made, powerful performances, great characters

[TheBFJ · 10/10 · 7 November 2001]

There's no way to talk about a ten minute film without revealing too much plot so if you don't want to know then don't read on. Also I can't remember for the life of me what the characters are called - sorry

SPOILERS:

This film is a really tragic story about a guy who goes out of his way to help a friend, but really it is him who is crying out for help.

To me this film is about priority. She should have stayed to help her friend but instead she chose to keep doing her job as normal. When the guy is dying on the floor we see that he is still conscious and he can see his friend trying to resuscitate him, yet she still stops. Once again she turns away from him and pays the price: his face haunts her forever.

I thought the film was brilliantly lit and wonderfully edited. The pace of the film made the characters look really strained as it felt like they were moving slower than the editor.

This is a great example of a massive story told in just a few minutes, and is yet more proof that shorts can be just as rich and powerful as a feature.

Gripping short that looks at two mentalities

[bob the moo · 26 March 2002]

Two junior NHS workers are in the middle of a night shift and dealing with it in different ways. Satinda is tired and put upon while Amir is seemingly cheerful and helps pick her up. However Amir is also depressed and using drugs and self harm to help him get by. Eventually they both have to decide how to deal with their stressful lives and to live with the consequences.

Professionally shot, this short looks very good. Some shorts tend to look like student films or have sets etc that look like they were borrowed from a sitcom, but this feels very professionally produced. The story is not so much a story as a character study of the two NHS (British health care service) workers. One works through the stress while the other buries it and uses harmful methods of dealing with it. Needless to say the short has a message about these two characters but it does it without judging either.

The two actors are great – Gulati is bubbly and quite beautiful while Bazely is perfect with the difficult job of half hiding a second character beneath his main character. Likewise the director does a very good job and the short feels and looks very good.

Overall a very good short, the only minor complaints being that it left me with some unanswered question – maybe repeat viewings are in order.