A year and a half I spent trying to track down this short film, by Luna Carmoon, after discovering the unsung treasure of young blooming actress Ruby Stokes in a theatrical film several months previous. I am pleased to inform you that the wait was, as I knew it would be, absolutely worth it. As of last night, I finally found it, and I wanted to spill my heart out to the world, but forgive me if the words are difficult to come by; I am still digesting what I've seen.
Partially saying this in defense of the short film art form in general... this one in particular is brief but by no means half-hearted or lifeless: clocking in at just under ten minutes, you are treated to a series of private interactions between two young girls, Coby and Lilah (played by Lily Newmark, and the beautiful, amazing, mesmerizing, extraordinary Ruby Stokes), interactions so naturally relatable from conversations to conflicts that you cannot help but forget you're watching a film.
I really appreciate that this film doesn't spoon-feed the audience a sugary, happy, hippy dippy coming-of-age story that would potentially talk down to the young actresses (and maybe young women in general). Instead, it quietly lets you peek into a situation that is the complete opposite. Not all is as it seems between these two friends, and within the minimal runtime you have to pay extra close attention (or watch it multiple times as I have done) to pick up on each subtle nuance, every silent signal. They're all there, and you find new ones each time, making the next viewing more chilling than the last.
I don't want to spoil it too much, so let me touch on a little safer territory, the aesthetic and sensuality of the film. Between the gauzy/hazy lighting, hypnotic music, of course the shocking conclusion, and a few quasi-mature metaphors throughout, you know that the filmmakers set out to create art that pushed comfort and boundaries. It's a film that can certainly be a bit uncomfortable to watch but it's also so beautiful to look at that you cannot pull your eyes away.
Is Nosebleed perfect? No. It does have its flaws, such as runtime (a personal criticism) and less-than-stellar audio at times. But is it good, even great? Yes, absolutely. I'm looking forward to seeing more from Luna.