A film that has amazing scope for its short duration and modest budget.
On the one hand, it's a wonderful tale of friendship, forgiveness, and finding hope in darkness; juxtapositioned with a story of racism, cruelty, and ultimately tragedy.
I always find it incredible when films can intertwine normal human interaction (such as fighting and making up with a childhood friend) into extreme circumstances like wartime. It reminds us that no matter the time or place, we all still have the same fears, loves, relationships, and feelings. The film pulled off this authenticity because of the stellar acting by the two young main characters.
When the character we see at the beginning returns at the end, you look at him with a new perspective. This time his eyes cut right into you and you feel the cost of war.
Rest in peace to all of the innocents whose lives were taken in the Kosovo War, and hopefully this film can impact future dialogue and the pursuit of other films on the topic. If I had been running the show at the Academy this year, "Shok" would have certainly walked away with the Best Short Film prize.
On the one hand, it's a wonderful tale of friendship, forgiveness, and finding hope in darkness; juxtapositioned with a story of racism, cruelty, and ultimately tragedy.
I always find it incredible when films can intertwine normal human interaction (such as fighting and making up with a childhood friend) into extreme circumstances like wartime. It reminds us that no matter the time or place, we all still have the same fears, loves, relationships, and feelings. The film pulled off this authenticity because of the stellar acting by the two young main characters.
When the character we see at the beginning returns at the end, you look at him with a new perspective. This time his eyes cut right into you and you feel the cost of war.
Rest in peace to all of the innocents whose lives were taken in the Kosovo War, and hopefully this film can impact future dialogue and the pursuit of other films on the topic. If I had been running the show at the Academy this year, "Shok" would have certainly walked away with the Best Short Film prize.