Starring: Tim Plester, Justine Emma Moore, Lance O’Reilly-Chapman
Camping is often seen as a way to reconnect with family as well as nature however the characters in ‘Bellmouth’ are often left isolated and alone. In the vast expanse of the outdoors, it becomes apparent that Amy’s father is struggling to hold more than his family together. Throughout the film, Amy and her younger brother Daniel build their relationship yet their father seems possessed by the need to build something else. The tentative attempts at engaging with his children are not unnoticed yet a feeling that he is preoccupied dominates his character. Whereas Amy and Daniel are fuelled by their interactions, Frank appears driven by the need to create physicality. He talks of building the fire early on in the film. This acts as a temporary device to hold his family together as they engage in typical campfire activities. A symbol of this desire to create is the DIY book that features throughout the film and it soon becomes apparent that Frank is not here to reconnect but to rebuild. The camping trip isn’t an escape from reality but the building of a new one.
Aside from the underlying and somewhat unknown issues that their father faces, Amy and Daniel’s relationship offers a sensitivity that is complimented by their rural setting. They talk, laugh and play – engaging in the environment with ease as their father struggles to connect with his children or his surroundings. The scenes with Amy and Daniel alone offer relief for the audience as they exist within the Daniel’s innocence. Amy pushes any doubt or worry she has from her mind in order to protect Daniel in a way that her father is unable to protect her. As ‘Bellmouth’ progresses, Amy becomes increasingly aware of the unsustainability of their circumstances, a realisation that is communicated to the viewer through a change in the colour grading. In the later stages of the film, greys and dark tones dominate where sunshine was once present and finally Amy learns the truth from her father.
From the point of realising her father’s vulnerability, Amy is forced to confront his decisions. She must evaluate their current situation; her father’s attempts at building a solution to their problems. The dynamic between a hopeless father and his young daughter is brought to life by Justine Emma Moore and Tim Plester in a way that is so believable it hurts your heart. Amy knows her father has tried to do what’s best for them but in a shift of the parent-child relationship, she realises she must take control and do what is best not only for herself but for her younger brother too. Moore shows great skill in communicating with conviction the decision that had to be made without compromising the difficulty of making it.
Director Joseph Roberts has made a strong entrance to the short film scene with ‘Bellmouth’. The story is compelling and tender with some wonderful examples of cinematography from Job Kraaijeveld. Strong performances are delivered by all cast members, with particular congratulations extended to Justine Emma Moore who deservedly won Best Actress at the OIFF Short Film Festival! ‘Bellmouth’ is a brilliant example of a short film and suggests great things to come from Joseph Roberts.
Watch the trailer below…
Did you like this review? Please donate so I can write more like it!