Script to Screen: Short Film Review

 Birthday - Short Film Review

https://vimeo.com/42734453 (Birthday, 2012)

'Birthday' (2012), written and directed by Pietro Malegori, is an emotionally challenging short film that deals with the subject of grief and loss. The film is shot from two main character's perspectives as they deal with the loss of their son. Throughout the film, the shots switch between the mother and father, depicting the different ways in which they deal with the loss of their son. 

The title 'Birthday' is symbolic of the fact that the film takes place on the day of their deceased son's birthday. The audience is subtly told this and reminded of this throughout the film in the form of shots of a birthday cake and a picture of their son. 

Fig.1 Still of Cake with lit candle from (Birthday, 2012)

The fact that the characters never meet and are in separate rooms throughout the film, could be symbolic of their loss of connection with each other as a result of their loss. The presence of telephones in both of their bedrooms and the use of one by the husband at the end shows a connection trying to be reestablished but it being too late as they were too wrapped up in their own pain rather than grieving as one. 

Malegori subtly matches the characters' costumes to their surroundings, in particular the mother's costumes. An example of this is in the penultimate scene, the mother's dress matches the bed covers, making her almost blend in. The use of this could reflect the emptiness the characters feel without their son there. Malegori and the director of photography, Michele Brandstetter de Bellesini, have also used neutral simplistic tones when shooting 'Birthday', which could be symbolic of the lack of emotion the parents appear to show throughout the film, until the father sheds a tear, or the numbness their loss has caused.  

Throughout the film, the music increases in volume and becomes more intense, reflecting upon the situation escalating. The music used is rather eerie and sad. The absence of dialogue is effective in this film as the audience doesn't need to be told through dialogue what the story is as it is explicitly implied through the use of objects and the characters' actions.

Malegori echoes shot of the mother in the bath in the penultimate scene where the mother has taken her own life. Both scenes start with the camera angled at the side of the mother, with her left hand on display. The audience is then forced to confront the mother's pain through the camera switching to a birds-eye view shot, making the viewer uncomfortable as the audience is having to look directly into the mother's eyes. Her eye's are often staring right at the camera and hardly moving, adding to the intensity of the atmosphere of the film and allowing the audience to experience the intense emotions the mother is experiencing as a result of her loss.  

 

Fig.2 Still of mother in bath from (Birthday, 2012)

Fig.3 Still of mother on bed from (Birthday,2012)

Malegori cleverly shoots the reflection of the father holding a gun up to his head in the mirror rather than the father himself. Through this shot, he is able to use the father's reflection in the mirror as a symbol of the father reflecting upon the life-changing decision that he is about to make. 

Fig.4 Still of father with gun to head from (Birthday,2012)

For the duration of the film, the mother and father's actions seem to be mirroring each other's in some way, but change at the end. The ending is bittersweet as the mother is finally at peace and no longer has to suffer with the emotional intensity losing her son has caused. However, as the father opted for a different outcome, he now also has to deal with the loss of his wife and son. 

The last shot is of the cake with the single candle that was once alight now out, mirroring the death of the mother, the end of her pain, and the end of the short film. 

Fig.5 Still of unlit candle and smoke from (Birthday, 2012)

The short film is simple but effective. At some point in our lives we all encounter grief and the loss of someone or something, meaning the audience are able to hold a greater sense of empathy whilst watching the film. Whilst watching 'Birthday' I was left feeling both saddened and uncomfortable as I was taken on the characters' journey of grief and loss. The film left me wanting to know more about how their son passed away, how old he was when he passed away, whether the husband ended his own life after discovering his wife had taken her own life, and many more. Malegori has created a very powerful piece that leaves a lasting impact upon the audience with regards to the understanding the effect grief and loss has on people. 

Bibliography:

Birthday (2012) [film] Directed by Malegori, P [Vimeo] At: https://vimeo.com/42734453 (Accessed at 15/11/2020)

Fig.1 Still of Cake with lit candle (2012) [Film still, Vimeo] In: Birthday

Fig.2 Still of mother in bath (2012) [Film still, Vimeo] In: Birthday

Fig.3 Still of mother on bed (2012) [Film still, Vimeo] In: Birthday

Fig.4 Still of father with gun to head (2012) [Film still, Vimeo] In: Birthday

Fig.5 Still of unlit candle and smoke (2012) [Film still, Vimeo] In: Birthday