Missing

This is an absolutely beautiful film that has a dark underbelly. As viewers, we are on this journey with a father that has lost his son. I am guessing the boy went missing while he was in the woods, and the father decides to go searching for him. As the film progresses, you slowly realize that this is not a film with a happy ending; it is about letting go, finding acceptance while you are still in a dark place.

You see the father losing himself. He has cut out all connection to the outside world looking for his boy, so much so that he himself is declared “missing” by his wife. 

Toward the end of the film, you see the father slowly making his way back to civilization. He cleans himself up, shops for supplies, and returns phone calls. After speaking with his wife, his demeanor starts to change. Her loss of faith in the search and her dejection is deeply felt by the father. He clearly is not the same person he was at the beginning of the film. You see him continue on with his errands and set off across the water, this time, as he makes his voyage, you start to wonder if this is the last time we will see him, too.

I think the film is very well done. It reads like poetry. The part that I liked the most about the film was the father’s determination to find his son, to the point that the last scene of the film has so many interpretations as to what happens to him.

You can watch Missing here at Short Film Wednesdays or check out other films from Short of the Week on their YouTube channel.

Lili

I have read a few interpretations of this film and agree with the one that has the clearest understanding; one day we all have to grow up and let go of some comforts of our childhood.

Yes, you can keep up the fight, but eventually you realize that you must let go and evolve. It seems like Lili’s transition to adulthood was not as smooth and it took a long time. When she was younger, growing up in a broken home, she needed her toys, stuffed animals, and fantasies to survive. Now that Lili is an adult, she must find peace in letting go of her childhood, her feelings of abandonment, and the safety she once felt in her loneliness.

You can watch Lili here on Short Film Wednesdays or check out CGMeetup for other similar films on their YouTube channel