- Release year: 2023
- Director: Ryan Fleming.
- Producers: Ryan Fleming and Molly Mitchell.
- Screenplay by: Ryan Fleming.
- Cinematography by: Ashtin Francis.
Synopsis: a university student tries to get his work published, but his professor does not think he is good enough.
Shotgun Commentary: relatable and low-key stressful.
Review
Sisyphus Unbound is a short film that serves as a modern take on the myth of Sisyphus. A take that is significantly more relatable for audiences nowadays than the original story.
For those of you who are not Greek mythology buffs and lack the energy or interest for a quick Google search, Sisyphus was a Greek king who, upon his death, was punished in the Underworld with rolling a boulder up a hill only to watch it roll down every time he was about to reach the top, thus making his task impossible to complete. As such, the term “Sisyphean” is used to describe any chore of this nature.
Armed with this knowledge, you can now understand why this seemingly straightforward story can also be read through the lens of the Greek myth. The short follows Virgil (Frederick J. Todd), a university student trying desperately to get his professor’s approval to publish one of his works. After a chance encounter with a random girl, he gets to his professor’s office and shows him his work.
Now, we have all had THAT kind of professor. Hell, even in high school, one is likely to encounter them. Professor Richard Laymen (Timothy J. Cox) is the kind of insecure man with a deep-rooted need to put everyone around him down to make himself feel better. The sort of professor that thrives on bullying his students because he feels more powerful. If you do not know what I am talking about, congratulations; you are one of the few chosen ones who have gotten actual professionals in charge of their education… Or you’ve been homeschooled, which is still a win if you don’t know anyone with this profile.
The evil among us
It has not been common for Cox to play the role of a villain in the works we have seen at Cut to the Take so far, much less in one as unapologetically evil as this one. This pleasant surprise makes the short feel fresh and a little bit like the negative of Hard Truths (2023), in which Cox’s character also has to communicate a difficult piece of news to a young professional but actually empathises instead of revelling in her suffering. As such, Professor Laymen is a bit like the evil twin to his Peter in Hard Truths.
The result is a bit caricaturesque, which only supports the reading of this film as a modernised Greek myth, placing Laymen in the position of vengeful god who enjoys punishing mere mortals… Which is rather the attitude these kinds of people tend to display, really.
All in all, Sisyphus Unbound is a Greek myth that has been dragged from the depths of the Underworld and brought into the world we inhabit now. Furthermore, it brings up a brand-new take on the story, one with a more positive ending in which we realise that sometimes getting rid of the boulder is the way to accomplish the mission impossible.
Fancy a watch? Find the movie right here!
Advice to take from this movie:
- The opinion of one person does not represent the opinion of everyone.
- Sometimes leaps of faith are easier to take than they seem.
- Don’t be a d*ck to strangers; what goes around comes around.
What’s your take? Have you watched Sisyphus Unbound? Don’t hesitate to let me know your thoughts in the comments section below, or leave a message on my contact page! For more reviews and cinema-related articles, check out the rest of my blog! 😀