1. Film Synopsis
Low
Release year: 2016
Director: Rachael Rowe
Genre: Social Realism
Certificate: 12
On a Wednesday morning (present day), Tom Ells, a
teenage boy, - who has been battling depression and
other problems for many years, has been skipping
school.He wants to avoid any interaction with peopleas
he fears the rejection and realises nobody understands
how he’s been feeling. On his first day back, in over a
month, he approaches the school gates, his friend’s
surround him and continuously ask him questions. He
starts to panic and ends up runningaway.When hestops
at a deserted field,and sits on a bench, knowing nobody
will find him. The boy decides; it’s time to get help, and
rings his family doctor:Dr Elbone.Tom explains howhe’s
been feeling and is urgently referred to a councillor,for
support and advice. The boy feels he has made a bad
decision; he would prefer to release all his built up
emotional turmoil, but in reality: it’s the right decision.
Tom understands hecould carry on self-harming,and he
even considers the possibility to kill himself, but he
decides to do what is right. He rings his mother (Helen)
and explains everything.After talkingto her he decides:
it’s time to go home, and try to make his life better.
Credits
ProductionCompany
Rachael Rowe Productions
Producedby Writtenby
Rachael Rowe Rachael Rowe
Cinematographer Editor
Rachael Rowe Rachael Rowe
Music
Bobbie Dearlove
Cast
Harry Heaven Ian Tubio
Tom Ben
GeorginaWoodard Samuel Arnold
Bobbie Will
BhavnaDourgah Rachael Rowe
Dr. Elbone Mum
From the directorof High Dependency,we are broughtthisnew social
realismshortfilm ‘Low’. Tom,a teenage boyhasjustarrivedat school to
the overwhelmingeventof havingtoanswerall hisfriends’questions.He
seemstobe agitatedby somethingbut atthe beginningwe are unsure of
the situation.However,asthe filmdevelopswe canstartto breakdown
whatis beingsaid bythe characters whichshows there isa underlying
problemwhichcausesTomto act so peculiarly.
Thisshort filmisbasedupona depressed teenage boywhois
strugglingtocome to termswiththe worldaroundhim.Tom has faced
manyproblemsina shortspace of time,whichhaslefthimbunking
school pretendingtobe ill.Asalast resort,Tomrings the doctor forhelp
and finallythere seemstobe abrighterfuture.Thisactionstarts witha
familiarritual of attendingschool whichthenbecomestoomuchforTom
resultinginhimrunningaway.
There are manypositive aspectssuchasthe shot typeswhich
have beenusedwhichcomplement the situationextremelywell and
showsthe raw emotionof the character.Anotherpositive aspectswould
be the choice of setting,thissettingwill be veryfamiliarwiththe target
groupso theywill be able torelate tothe familiarritual of goingtoschool.
However,there are alsonegative aspectswhichincludethe
narrative whichcouldexplore the theme andissue withmore depth
allowingthe audience tounderstandthe situationquicker.
Throughoutthe shortI wasable to sympathise withTomandwas
able to understandthatthere wasproblemsforhimwhichmade himfeel
uneasyaboutthe decisionshe wasmaking.However,more couldhave
beenincludedintothe narrationsothatthe storyline wasunderstood
straightaway sothat there wasno blurredideasof the true plot.I would
personallyrate thisfilmafouroutof five starsas it hasbeenwell thought
throughand usual shortfilmconventionshave beenmet.
25th
April 2016
