Stuck in a Film is a creative and unique short, though its plot can be a bit confusing. The story follows a four-person film crew trapped in an elevator, desperately pressing buttons to get help. At first, pressing a button triggers surreal events in the outside world--like a group of people suddenly hula dancing in a busy market. Just as you expect each button to cause a new outdoor reaction, the concept randomly shifts to the buttons making phone calls instead. While the execution doesn't always make sense, the engaging camera work, eerie music, and busy urban backdrop build a fun sense of mystery.
The young actors deliver great, relatable performances that capture real stress and frustration. The blue-backpack kid stands out with his overwhelmed expressions, while the long-haired kid takes charge as the crew's steady leader. My favorite scene is the market dance, where more and more people join in.
The film's message is that unexpected things happen in life. Note that it contains profanity and mentions of a dog getting drunk.
I give Stuck in a Film 4 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 12 to 18. By Kinsley H., KIDS FIRST!
Stuck in a Film is a creative and unique short, though its plot can be a bit confusing. The story follows a four-person film crew trapped in an elevator, desperately pressing buttons to get help. At first, pressing a button triggers surreal events in the outside world--like a group of people suddenly hula dancing in a busy market. Just as you expect each button to cause a new outdoor reaction, the concept randomly shifts to the buttons making phone calls instead. While the execution doesn't always make sense, the engaging camera work, eerie music, and busy urban backdrop build a fun sense of mystery.
The young actors deliver great, relatable performances that capture real stress and frustration. The blue-backpack kid stands out with his overwhelmed expressions, while the long-haired kid takes charge as the crew's steady leader. My favorite scene is the market dance, where more and more people join in.
The film's message is that unexpected things happen in life. Note that it contains profanity and mentions of a dog getting drunk.
I give Stuck in a Film 4 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 12 to 18. By Kinsley H., KIDS FIRST!
Stuck in a Film is a short fiction film about a film crew trapped in an elevator. Through a series of phone calls for help, the enclosed space of the elevator becomes connected to the outside world, while their seemingly ordinary mishap slowly turns into a surreal cinematic situation. Help, of course, never really arrives -- and in the end the elevator starts moving only by chance, when other people press the button and enter it. From Croatia; dialogue in Croatian; English subtitles
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