Was it a documentary? Or was it a film? I really wasn't able to tell the difference when I viewed this short. It seemed so real on a raw, fundamental level - and it was really disturbing and uncomfortable to watch, which is something that I try to incorporate into my own films as well. My confusion as to whether or not the short was fabricated or merely recorded made the film itself, much less the subject matter, that much more intriguing to me.
The voice-over was particularly effective, not being able to hear what Jimmy or Ron sounded like and only being guided by a disembodied voice to the obviously intense visuals. The non-diegetic inserts subsconsiously replace your own thoughts, pulling the audience into this sad story completely without their even realizing it even after the credits roll.
The most intense moment comes when Jimmy shoots up, with the footage replaying and overlaying into a disillusioning visual while the silence traps you into being forced to watch what the boy is going through.
Acted or not, the short is incredibly well directed. I gave it a 9/10, as I usually leave a last point of improvement as a rule.
The voice-over was particularly effective, not being able to hear what Jimmy or Ron sounded like and only being guided by a disembodied voice to the obviously intense visuals. The non-diegetic inserts subsconsiously replace your own thoughts, pulling the audience into this sad story completely without their even realizing it even after the credits roll.
The most intense moment comes when Jimmy shoots up, with the footage replaying and overlaying into a disillusioning visual while the silence traps you into being forced to watch what the boy is going through.
Acted or not, the short is incredibly well directed. I gave it a 9/10, as I usually leave a last point of improvement as a rule.