I was fortunate enough to have a private screening of this short film. With a running time of only 17 minutes, it manages to create an experience that is simply transformative.
Baxter as Helen Keller is mesmerizing. I have deaf family members, and I am familiar with the spoken quality of their voices. Baxter nails it, authentic and unpatronizing. She captures the full range of emotions, and restores humanity to a person that most people see as almost a mythical creature.
There is drama here, not the drama of a young girl trying to find her voice, but of a young woman struggling to find her identity. I was on the absolute edge of my seat at times.
I also found the soundtrack to be incredibly moving and unique.
My main criticism is that I need more. Sometimes you watch a feature film and feel that the whole message, tone and best parts of the film were contained in the 2 minute trailer. The opposite is true with Whirlpool. 17 minutes is hardly enough to scratch the surface. I am hopeful the filmmakers will create a feature length film for Helen to really share her story with us.
Baxter as Helen Keller is mesmerizing. I have deaf family members, and I am familiar with the spoken quality of their voices. Baxter nails it, authentic and unpatronizing. She captures the full range of emotions, and restores humanity to a person that most people see as almost a mythical creature.
There is drama here, not the drama of a young girl trying to find her voice, but of a young woman struggling to find her identity. I was on the absolute edge of my seat at times.
I also found the soundtrack to be incredibly moving and unique.
My main criticism is that I need more. Sometimes you watch a feature film and feel that the whole message, tone and best parts of the film were contained in the 2 minute trailer. The opposite is true with Whirlpool. 17 minutes is hardly enough to scratch the surface. I am hopeful the filmmakers will create a feature length film for Helen to really share her story with us.