From dystopian kissing dramas to charming stories of friendship, the collection of Live Action Short Films nominated at this year’s Oscars offers something for all tastes.
I watched all five of these shorts to prepare for the event, which is now only a few days away on March 15. Each short film had a different flair and perspective, and you could tell how much effort went into making each one. It’s reassuring to see such a diverse panel of art being represented in the nominees, and it really goes to show you how much artists can accomplish, even with so little of a runtime.
Without further ado, here’s how I would rank this year’s Oscar-nominated shorts, from worst to best.
#5: Two People Exchanging Saliva
Directed by Natalie Musteata & Alexandre Singh
Two People Exchanging Saliva follows two women who find each other out of place in their dystopian society. Here, kissing is illegal, so they must connect in their small moments and exchanges as a salesperson and a customer.
The narrative was difficult to follow on this one, which is why it’s so low on the list. Somehow, the complex narrative and setting were all tied into lesbian desires, but to be frank, I really didn’t know how to approach this film. The bones of an interesting short were all there, but it was just too difficult to follow and felt painfully Yorgos Lanthimos-esque.
The production and sound design stood out, but I truly had no concept of the rules or boundaries of this society. That partially could’ve been due to the short film time constraint, but the film still ran too long for a short film, being just around half an hour. Despite being very well-crafted and performed, Two People Exchanging Saliva ultimately failed for me.
#4: Jane Austen’s Period Drama
Directed by Julia Aks & Steve Pinder
This short tells the tale of a storybook proposal in a Jane Austen-esque story goes wrong when the girl starts her period, and her suitor, not aware of the menstrual cycle, thinks she’s dying.
The idea of Jane Austen’s Period Drama was cute, and the story flowed well out of that central premise. The biggest issues, though, were the comedic timing and the writing; it felt like a YouTube sketch more than a short film nominated for an Academy Award. There was nothing technically wrong with this short, except that it sort of operates from a place tonally that I think is too ridiculous to be in company with these other shorts, but not ridiculous enough to be strictly a comedic effort. It’s trying too hard to be funny, and that shows. The only reason it is not last place on this list is that it had, at least, a cohesive message and purpose.
#3: The Singers
Directed by Sam A. Davis
In The Singers, we find ourselves in a packed bar full of old friends and new faces as the bartender strikes up a singing competition to claim the $100 bill hanging from the ceiling.
If there were an award for the best-made short film of the crop, The Singers would easily take the cake. It features lavish cinematography, full of cigarette smoke and dive-bar lighting, plus a fun ensemble performance. As the short went on, though, it became one-note about the singing competition, leaving too little room to build character relationships or backstory. It didn’t give itself any room to end on a satisfying note, or any room to leave the audience wanting more. It definitely overstays its welcome. The Singers is sort of a one-trick pony, but overall enjoyable to watch.
#2: Butcher’s Stain
Directed by Meyers Levinson-Blount
Butcher’s Stain is one of the more timely films of the bunch, as it follows Samir, an Arab Butcher working in a supermarket in Tel Aviv. Samir is accused of tearing down posters showing hostages in the breakroom, and this accusation slowly tears apart his life and his trust in those around him.
The story of Butcher’s Stain was concise, captivating, and well-crafted. Omar Sameer’s main performance was excellent as well. Only one main issue stood out: the side plot following Samir’s fight for custody of his son, Adam. Once the short sits with you for a while, you can understand why it was nominated, but it wasn’t fleshed out enough to make sense while watching. Other than that, Butcher’s Stain is relevant, interesting, and succeeds in gripping the audience with its realistic production and story.
#1: A Friend of Dorothy
Directed by Lee Knight
Rounding out this list is A Friend of Dorothy, a short abouta young man named JJ who strikes up a friendship with his elderly neighbor, Dorothy, leading to his inclusion in her rewritten will, much to her grandson’s dismay. Through flashbacks, we see JJ and Dorothy’s friendship blossom, experiencing everything they learned from each other before her passing.
A Friend of Dorothy was a very charming and emotionally resonating short, and the story was clear from start to finish, even if some of the double meanings and metaphors were a bit on the nose. The performances were good, the writing was clear, and it left the audience wanting to explore the world more. Like Butcher’s Stain, there was a beginning-middle-end that the audience was taken along for succinctly in its short runtime. I think the filmmaking, in terms of camera work and production design, could’ve been bolder, but for a cozy story like this one, I see how the direction let the performances and writing take the wheel. This could easily serve as a treatment for a feature film in the future.
Of all the shorts I watched, A Friend of Dorothy stood out the most. The range of emotions Knight was able to capture in such a short amount of time is remarkable and something every short should strive to accomplish.
Article Courtesy of Justin Duggan
Feature image credit to Netflix, Highway West Entertainment, Junk Drawer