The visuals are truly stealing the show, the cinematography and VFX are gorgeous, much like the production design and makeup. The orchestral music and the sound design emphasises the epic feel, which is unusually well-achieved for a short film.
The only thing I was missing is a "second act", the part which would elaborate what the main character, Rowan had been doing with his knowledge of a magical world beyond our regular one. How did he use this connection and how did he come to his realisation at the end. I was missing a journey which would show how Rowan got to experience his grandfather's wisdom about interconnected lives and nature as a living thing. The message of the story is powerful but it is tightly wrapped in symbols; Rowan's choice of reality over the magical world would come across more powerfully if we would have gotten a more detailed introduction to the spirit world and its rules.
The film is definitely worth watching though as it's a great achievement for 40 minutes!
The only thing I was missing is a "second act", the part which would elaborate what the main character, Rowan had been doing with his knowledge of a magical world beyond our regular one. How did he use this connection and how did he come to his realisation at the end. I was missing a journey which would show how Rowan got to experience his grandfather's wisdom about interconnected lives and nature as a living thing. The message of the story is powerful but it is tightly wrapped in symbols; Rowan's choice of reality over the magical world would come across more powerfully if we would have gotten a more detailed introduction to the spirit world and its rules.
The film is definitely worth watching though as it's a great achievement for 40 minutes!