Written and directed by Matthew R. Ford, Left Behind deals with the serious issue of domestic violence. Ford’s short film captures a discussion between two women, Melissa (Grace Farrell) and Kat (Savannah Gallo), who were both abused by the same man.
Kat is struggling with her mental health; even getting dressed is too much. While she sits sipping coffee, her houseguest, Melissa, appears almost gloatingly glamourous. But despite their contrasting appearances, Mellissa and Kat have more in common than is initially apparent.
Their relationship is ambivalent and ambiguous from the beginning, slowly revealing itself throughout the narrative. We learn of the horrific abuse suffered by Kat from a man who remains nameless throughout the film, and how this abuse extended beyond their marriage to another women – Melissa. There is a certain animosity between the two women, with Kat’s jealously emerging in response to the fact that her husband desired Melissa while treating her with violence and aggression. Melissa had a similar experience with the man and responds with anger, implying that Kat could have prevented the perpetuation of abuse by speaking up.
The dynamic between Kat and Melissa is interesting, however there is an element that feels as though the two women are being pitted against each other. Ultimately they are both victims, and because the film removes the presence of the oppressor from the screen this fact begins to fade away slightly as both characters direct their anger towards each other. Nevertheless, the emotional exchange between Kat and Melissa is engaging and thought provoking.
Left Behind relies heavily on monologue to deliver information, but there are also many nuances to be picked up on in the mise-en-scene. The dialogic design of the film works well as both Grace Farrell and Savannah Gallo give strong emotional performances which carry the film forwards. Matthew Ford’s writing gives a strong foundation for the two leading actresses to build on, adopting a lyrical quality that adds to the emotional depth. Although only one location is used, the individual performances of Farrell and Gallo mean the film never stagnates. The cinematography, while limited, is clean and consistent – it allows the focus to remain on what the characters are saying. Another high point of the film is the musical accompaniment which compliments the tone of the film exceptionally.
Watch the trailer below