This is such a short film, under 15 minutes, that it is difficult to discuss it without giving too much away, and it's the sort of film that you don't want to spoil the ending for those who haven't seen it. Basically, it's about an old man who receives a visitor who turns out to be running a scam. His reaction is frightening. That said, let me go on to discuss some of the implied points. The issue of a lonely, old man going off the deep end is not entirely original but the way in which it is handled here, in such a compact venue, gives the film a quite visceral impact. But maybe there's something else going on. What is the letter the man is writing? Is he looking for companionship or does he have a darker purpose? Then there's that title. It's definitely enigmatic and cryptic. There is a very tiny reference to cheese in the story itself, but does it mean the whole thing is a fantasy? I don't think so, but I didn't make the film and the film-maker never called me to explain it. Anyway, I liked it, even though it creeped me out.
3 Reviews
Interesting short film
joebloggsy16 April 2004
Warning: Spoilers
#### Spoilers #####
I saw this very short film when it was featured on I think a BBC programme. It was, well, interesting.
It deals with an old man who has, it seems, become fed up with modern society. This culminates in him brutally attacking a woman who attempts to con him.
It is perhaps a critique of modern society, or simply a story that reminds us of a now-days all too forgotten generation of people.
The direction is good, although the film leaves you with more questions than answers in my opinion. Seven out of ten.
I saw this very short film when it was featured on I think a BBC programme. It was, well, interesting.
It deals with an old man who has, it seems, become fed up with modern society. This culminates in him brutally attacking a woman who attempts to con him.
It is perhaps a critique of modern society, or simply a story that reminds us of a now-days all too forgotten generation of people.
The direction is good, although the film leaves you with more questions than answers in my opinion. Seven out of ten.
I don't know
tim-baines20 April 2007
Warning: Spoilers
I just don't know about this. My reaction, to quote a line in this film is 'As we can imagine ...' followed by my assertion... the filmmakers have no idea about old age. The old guy just may not have the physical strength to kill a young woman or the motivation to do so. The shot of Tamsin Greig with blood on her face is just pure cheese, a short cut in plot exposition. Sure, the old guy's personal history history is tragic and there are many people like him, but I feel the directing is clumsy in terms of the action. I cannot really believe what has transgressed could really phycisally happen. The story telling fails to show the physicality this story relies on and in this sense there are some wasted oppportunities because both actors both deliver creditable and good performances. I understand this old man through the actors talents, good casting, but feel the film spares us the details of his resolve. It's like Agatha Christie with a touch of 'oh yeah and here are the murderers delusions', ersatz drama. Hope you got more work from this, mr director.
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