In a remote village in the country, Polly, her dad and her brother and sister live together without their mother, who has been gone for almost ten years. Polly struggles to get out of the shadow of her mother, a problem made worse by her father clinging to his wife's memory and possessions.
I have seen several of Barnard's shorts, but had yet to see one that has a story and is played more as a drama rather than a documentary of collection of interviews. Flood was my first chance to see one of the former, based as it was on a novel (by her sister I think - who said nepotism?!). Despite being adapted from a book, this short doesn't actually help you out a great deal and seems to enter and leave a bigger story after the start and before the end. It is still quite easy to get into, even if some of the stuff involving sex is less clear to me (I took it to be Polly becoming her mother in small ways).
The direction is very good, mixing the feel of the film depending on the time, framing some shots very cleverly and making good use of the locations. Keaney is good as the father and it was a shame I didn't totally understand what he was going through - although that is more the running time and script's fault than his. Grey is very assured and she leads the film with ability and confidence.
Overall this is not a perfect short but it is interesting and just pitches it right enough to make you think about it after you've seen it. I have been a bit harsh on some of Barnard's other short films, but in this I found one that I liked and enjoyed; I shall continue to keep an eye out for her work now.
I have seen several of Barnard's shorts, but had yet to see one that has a story and is played more as a drama rather than a documentary of collection of interviews. Flood was my first chance to see one of the former, based as it was on a novel (by her sister I think - who said nepotism?!). Despite being adapted from a book, this short doesn't actually help you out a great deal and seems to enter and leave a bigger story after the start and before the end. It is still quite easy to get into, even if some of the stuff involving sex is less clear to me (I took it to be Polly becoming her mother in small ways).
The direction is very good, mixing the feel of the film depending on the time, framing some shots very cleverly and making good use of the locations. Keaney is good as the father and it was a shame I didn't totally understand what he was going through - although that is more the running time and script's fault than his. Grey is very assured and she leads the film with ability and confidence.
Overall this is not a perfect short but it is interesting and just pitches it right enough to make you think about it after you've seen it. I have been a bit harsh on some of Barnard's other short films, but in this I found one that I liked and enjoyed; I shall continue to keep an eye out for her work now.
