Last week, the Blade & Bow Short Film Showcase took place at Glasgow Film Theatre. This being the second edition of the showcase, had a bigger programme than last time, and it was absolutely packed. For those of you who don’t know, Blade & Bow is a female-run production company that creates the most original content. If you don’t believe me, there’s Baobhan Sith (2023) to prove my point.
The event featured nine short films of incredibly different themes that somehow created a delightful experience for all of us lucky viewers. At the risk of sounding extremely hippy, it was an event where a sense of community reigned supreme despite being among strangers. A community that stretched the GFT room where the screening took place, since all the money raised was sent to St Columba’s Hospice Care, in Edinburgh.
In addition to the screenings, the event was toped up with a short but sweet Q&A with the creators of the short films, where they talked a bit more in depth about their work and provided more insight into their MO. Hosting the Q&A was Rebys Hynes, the curator of the showcase, who thankfully knew where to dig and when to call it quits, providing one of the most concise and interesting Q&As of the year.
Without further ado, here are the reviews of the Blade & Bow Short Film Showcase programme:
Hold My Hand
- Year of production: 2024
- Filmmaker: Lucy Hilton-Jones and Elliot Taylor.
Synopsis
A trip with friends turns into a nightmare.
Review
Hold My Hand is dark comedy at its best. While it is promoted as a parody of Jet2 advertisements, the emphasis on location rather than travel makes it look more like Airbnb meets The Evil Dead (1981). The surrealism of the different situations highlights the satire, while the cheerful narrator brings a note of eeriness.
The film is short and sweet, packing all the events in a rapid succession of scenes that, much like the real advertisements, gives you a notion rather a story. Even though it’s very obvious that the cast was having a lot of fun with their roles, this attitude is contagious and doesn’t take away any quality from the film, rather it adds another layer of humour.
Trachatys of a Old Woman
- Year of production: 2024
- Filmmaker: Ben Kay.
Synopsis
A wacky story about an old lady cursed with immortality.
Review
Without any context, Trachatys of a Old Woman is a fun, terribly written tale about a generic curse. The narrative makes of nonsense its power, a kid narrator making sure that you know this is supposed to be a child speaking.
The fact that the whole story is, indeed, the invention of a real child who just felt like telling a tale, makes it all the more fun. Watching adults enact whatever ludicrous story takes place in a kid’s mind is both hilarious and endearing.
Peroxide
- Year of production: 2024
- Filmmaker: Missy McNaught.
Synopsis
A little girl explores the world of beauty and makeup.
Review
In an attempt to recreate a childhood-inspired event, the director of this film has inadvertently made a commentary on the horrible societal pressure women endure from a very young age to look a certain way. In a slow, almost lethargic pace, we follow a young girl as she tries to stay entertained at a stranger’s house while her mother styles her client’s hair.
The child’s attention is drawn to images of women on magazines, her mother’s dyed hair, and the old woman’s hair that is being styled. She interiorises that blond hair is beautiful, so she wants it. Next, she studies several magazines specially curated for a female audience, where she sees all the makeup models use. Following the irresistible desire to imitate the adults, she proceeds to put makeup all over her face in secret.
While this story can have the naive reading of a quaint childhood memory, a more realistic reading brings forth a depressing truth: women are brainwashed to desire what society wants of them since birth. Just like young girls want to wear makeup and get their hair blond, they later on obsess with being thin, or with the size of their nose, or their mouth, etc. So many industries are built on people’s insecurities, and this innocent childhood moment is the most heartbreaking reminder of that.
The Rest of Them
- Year of production: 2024
- Filmmaker: Ausette Anderies.
Synopsis
A queer couple talking before and after a gathering with friends at their house.
Review
The storytelling is good, and the cinematography is quite cosy. Other than that, it is hard to see the relevance, or find any interest, in watching a moment in life that one experiences day in and day out. Day-to-day conversations with a partner and flatmate are nothing to rave about, specially when nothing of interest happens. While one can appreciate the appeal of a snug perspective of the everyday life, there is barely any substance, making it a lot harder to maintain your attention in the content.
Despite the importance of the work in terms of queer representation, it falls into a really toxic relationship stereotype: talking about the future is pressuring your partner. It is exhausting to see how ALL couples in films and series go through the exact same thing. Someone brings up marriage, kids, moving in… any sort of big step in a relationship, and automatically the partner gets scared, upset, or uncomfortable, while the person who brought it up profusely apologises for even mentioning anything.
One might assume that in 2024 people would have realised that the key to a relationship is communication. This doesn’t stop at take-out choices or sexual preferences, it applies to EVERYTHING. That doesn’t mean that you have to set a date for doing things or veto them forever. Talking about things like marriage, children, and permanent accommodation is a way to know your partner better and, more importantly, to know if your plans for the future align or might align at some point. Otherwise, you are just setting yourselves up for disappointment and a life of resentment.
With Concrete at Sea
- Year of production: 2024
- Filmmaker: Victoria Pavlova.
Synopsis
A commentary on the destruction of nature at the hands of humans.
Review
The message of this film is very noble. Sadly, the execution of the story doesn’t quite work. The type of shots and the camera movements remind too much of a touristic advertisement for the Canary Islands or a music video recorded by a first-time filmmaker. The tones and colour palettes follow that of a road safety commercial, which is useful to portray the ugliness of the construction that eats away nature, but not so much to showcase the beauty of nature.
Additionally, the soundtrack is exactly what comes to mind when you think of generic dramatic music, so much so that it reminds more of a soap opera than a film. Regrettably, this also means that it is incredibly hard to take the protagonist seriously. While the acting is flawless, the musical accompaniment turns her performance into more of a comedy, which is certainly not the point.
Beached
- Year of production: 2023
- Filmmaker: Chloe Ireland.
Synopsis
A girl’s friendship is put to the test by their graving for Internet fame.
Review
If you didn’t have enough with the non-stop TikTok videos of lame teenagers who think they are the sh*t, here’s some insight into the life of said teens. Spoiler alert, it’s even more cringe than their social media presence.
This short does a great job at reminding you of those years that you’ve spent ages trying to forget and, for those lucky enough, it makes you thank all that’s holy that there was no social media to record your shenanigans back in the day. The story is quite predictable, but very likely a lesson lots of young teens should learn. Social media is not as much of a toy as we’d like it to be. There is such thing as taking things too far, and easy access to internet only makes careless actions worse.
The exploration of friendships between fame-starved teenagers is a nice concept. Unfortunately, the message is a bit muddled by the ending. A scene in which the protagonist seems to have learnt nothing and, in fact, doubles down on the use of social media in her desperate need for attention.
Valise
- Year of production: 2024
- Filmmaker: Olga Niekrasova.
Synopsis
A little boy narrates some of his childhood memories before they are forgotten due to the war that is forcing him to leave his home.
Review
Putting it simply, the short doesn’t work. The idea is beautiful and original. The narrative is fascinating and the photography beautiful. What’s the matter, then? Well, it is completely fake, that’s the issue.
Unlike it’s programme partner Trachatys of a Old Woman, this film is definitely not a kid’s narration. Sure, the narrator is a child, but the words are most certainly not. This obvious deception is frustrating and low-key annoying. Selling something as the story of a child and writing the story for them is closer to dishonest propaganda than it is from a valuable commentary of the horrible situation that is happening in Europe right now. Not the look you want for a film like this.
St Hope
- Year of production: 2020
- Filmmaker: Anna Pataki.
Synopsis
Cute love story between two young women.
Review
St Hope will be particularly relatable for Glaswegian audiences. Being shot in Nice & Sleazy, one of the most frequented clubs in the city, it is instantly relatable. Still, due to the universality of the story, it is easy to engage with for all audiences. A fun, beautiful, love story between two women that features no prejudice or drama is a refreshing change to the norm of tragic queer cinema. Not only does it innovate in the genre, but it also brings hope to a type of love widely portrayed in the media as “doomed”.
The transitions are fantasting, as is the editing and the image quality, all incredible feats considering the tricky light configuration that is usually used in clubs. The beauty of its form adds a layer of whimsicality that fits perfectly with the atmosphere that they are trying to convey.
Additionally, it doesn’t shy away from the usual unpleasantness women have to go through every single night they go out. It is sadly a universal law that, more often then not, if you find yourself alone at a club, some half-drunk guy who gives 0 sh*ts about your personal space will start to talk your ear off out of nowhere. Even this predicament is made somewhat funny thanks to its context and the presence of the friends near by. Still, it is a nice detail to add. Considering how frequent it happens in real life, it is a moment when automatically all women go “oh, god, not this”, a bonding few seconds that only adds to the feeling of sisterhood portrayed through the film.
Fitted
- Year of production: 2024
- Filmmaker: Diane Devlin.
Synopsis
A woman reflects on her life and how her bras have changed as the years have gone by.
Review
Fitted is the perfect example of a story you need and want to hear. It is gorgeous in text and execution. Every moment feels special because every moment is. The strength of the protagonsit comes, not from being a boss, or a leader, or a celebrity. She is a woman, and that is more than enough to make her exceptional. She faces great joy and great sorrow, she adapts and evolves, and every single step of the way you admire her further.
This story is as gorgeous as it is inspired and inspiring. The moments are overwhemingly powerful in their simplicity and uniqueness, a blend that makes of this piece the most exceptional of the bunch. It could have done without the over-sentimental song of the credits, but then again, what in life is fully perfect?
Advice to take from these short films:
- Violins can be a little much sometimes, handle with care.
- Don’t try to deceive your audience. It might work, but if it doesn’t, you will lose them.
- Do leave women alone if you’re drunk at a bar/club. It doesn’t matter what you think, you are NOT being charming.
- Often quality depends on the passion you have for telling a story.
What’s your take? Have you watched any, or all, of these short films? Which one if your favourite? Let me know your thoughts in the comments section below, in my contact page or through my Instagram! For more reviews and cinema-related articles, check out the rest of my blog! 😀
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