Matthew Paris delivers an inspirational video reminding us to take stock of how far we’ve come, and how we’ve yet to go. A Time of Reflections is more of a soundbite than an actual narrative. We follow a man as he takes a drive around his hometown and finds comfort in the familiar sights. The monologue delivered, while not revelatory, is uplifting in spirit. The simplicity and short length means the film is engaging, not demanding too much of viewer’s attention spans.
As the writer, director, editor and star of the film, Matthew Paris has done a good job of juggling the various responsibilities. Perhaps a slight limitation is the fact that most the shots are either of Paris filming himself or of the scenery outside. This cinematography works somewhat within the context of this style, but more variation and creativity within the shots could have added some light and shade.
The way Paris has captured shots of his hometown is touchingly sentimental. Almost becoming a documentary, immortalising these places at that moment in time as his camera passes. The film feels very personal, but also universal. The themes are fairly broad and most people will find something within them to relate to.
A Time of Reflections parks itself somewhere between film and inspirational quote, encouraging us all to take a moment of reflection for ourselves.