1. Films
Saturday
United Kingdom 2012
Director: Paige Parker
With Amanda Osborne, Joshua
Ridley, Jon-Paul Ridley
Certificate U 5m
“Children are like wet cement. Whatever
falls on them makes an impression.”
This quote from Dr Haim Ginott is a perfect
reflection in Paige Parker’s short film
Saturday. We are introduce to Alfie (Joshua
Ridley) when we see him casually sitting
in his front room watching a film with his
parents, at first we believe that this is just
a generally happy family home but is soon Saturday: Joshua Ridley
becomes clear to us as an audience that is although it is apparent that the family Produced By
family is anything but happy. We see this have next door neighbors we see no Paige Parker
when the mother (Amanda Osborne) no sign of them even though there is a
actively distances herself from her son and lot of noise made by the family Screenplay
husband (Jon-Paul Ridley). Although Alfie especially in the scene where Alfie is out Paige Parker
tries to ignore the situation and have fun like in the car with the ear-splitting music
a “normal” child, we are yet again shown the playing. Story
severity of the situation when the mother This scene is an autobiographical Paige Parker
lashes out and grabs Alfie’s wrist forcing him from the writer, director Paige Parker “I
to stop playing about. The situation is remember when I was younger having Director of photography
quickly defused by the father who sends plans to see my dad which got Paige Parker
Alfie to his room with the task of getting cancelled on the day and I was so upset
ready to go to lunch at his nan’s house. that I snuck out to my mum’s car with Editor
Although the theme of child neglect comes the idea that I would drive to my dads Paige Parker
up in this film it is clear that the Father of the and being caught when the radio started
story is willing to do everything that he can playing.” This is where Parker’s idea Music
to distance Alfie from the situation. The for the whole story started “it was just Michael Charman
father may believe that he was successful about incorporating something into the Christian Fenton
in helping Alfie avoid the situation but little story to make the situation more
does he know Alfie is actually sitting on the intense.” The slow increase in tension Production Companies
stairs eaves dropping on the conversation. in this film is used subtly to make the Paige Parker Productions
This bring in a popular question of “how car scene intense and effective. We are Beacon Productions
much should you hide from your child”. shown the deteriorating situation of
Thought it is clear through the story that the Alfie’s home life in an successful and Executive Producer
father tries to keep Alfie away from the Dramatic way. Jules Becker
situation so that he is unaware of how
dependent and only good intentions but Paige Parker Location
Manager
could the breakdown of the relationship Amanda Osborne
between Alfie and his mother impact him in CREDITS
later life. The film is set in a present day Script Supervisor
London suburban town this can be sent Directed by Jules Becker
through the use of location used which also Paige Parker
enforces the idea that people aren’t aware Titles Designed By
of what is going on right under there noses Christian Fenton
SYNOPSIS CAST
In a middle class family home on a cold winters morning we see the life of Alfie, a 7
year old boy, unravel. At first it appears to be a happy home but soon the cracks start Alfie
to appear and we are shown an aggressive abusive mother. After overhears an Joshua Ridley
argument between his parents and watching his father leave Alfie decides that he is
going to take matters into his own hands and takes his mothers car keys in an attempt Mum
B
to drive the car and bring his father back. As Alfie starts the car shockingly loud Amanda Osborne
Jon-Paul Ridley Dad alerts the mother to his plans. Alfie refuses to let his
music starts to play which
mother into the car so she goes into the house to search for a spare key. Only to be Dad
met by Alfie and his father who walk into the house closing the door behind them. Jon-Paul Ridley
44 | Sight & Sound | February 2012