"Sevilla" is an award-winning Dutch 11-minute short film from 4 years ago and takes us on a journey with 3 tourists who are about to face tragedy and how they deal with it. I think both the director and the writer as well as the 3 actors did a fine job here with the story they are delivering us. I enjoyed the watch and it got me curious about other projects from the bunch. Sadly, it looks so far nobody broke through outside the Netherlands and I wonder if this is gonna change at some point. I sure hope so. This is not a superb short film by any means, but it succeeds with what it intends and is a pretty tense watch for its brief running time. Go check it out.
4 Reviews
The joy, the impulsiveness, the potential and ultimately the fleeting nature of youth – all in 10 minutes
bob the moo8 April 2014
A group of friends go on a road trip; a man, his girlfriend and his best male friend. They impulsively decide to make the journey to Sevilla to have a good time and along the way experience great moments and memories together.
To say too much more than this would be to give away too much about this film, which isn't to say there is a Sixth Sense twist at the end, but with films this short you do pretty much either know the whole story or you don't – and in most cases it is better if you don't. Sevilla is essentially a microcosm of youth in one simple narrative which covers a lot of ground. We see our three characters with their freedom, their joy, their energy and their interlocking relationships. Although it is never expressly said that the two men are also experiencing attraction, for sure there is a closeness there that is more than ordinary. The trio experience moments of great memory and these are edited with a cool soundtrack and sun-kissed cinematography. I liked very much that in this one scene in particular that the next scene absolutely crashes across this one (even cutting the music dead) to one of just practical, dull driving – showing that life is not a montage.
Another moment in the film shows how maturity and reality can impact on such frivolity and cause a move beyond them really quickly. For some people this is a gradual creeping in life but for others it can be a dramatic change in their perception that causes this, while still leaving them in a young person's body. Although it is of course dramatic (and occurring very easily) the film does make this point well. If it has a downside I would say that time constraint and the goal of the film does mean that a lot of ground gets covered in a very short time, almost necessitating broad strokes, however it still works.
The performances are natural and engaging while the film looks and sounds very good – with great shots and cinematography. The narrative may move quickly but it is such a great commentary on youth that it is hard not to be engaged in its reality and thus go with its extremes.
To say too much more than this would be to give away too much about this film, which isn't to say there is a Sixth Sense twist at the end, but with films this short you do pretty much either know the whole story or you don't – and in most cases it is better if you don't. Sevilla is essentially a microcosm of youth in one simple narrative which covers a lot of ground. We see our three characters with their freedom, their joy, their energy and their interlocking relationships. Although it is never expressly said that the two men are also experiencing attraction, for sure there is a closeness there that is more than ordinary. The trio experience moments of great memory and these are edited with a cool soundtrack and sun-kissed cinematography. I liked very much that in this one scene in particular that the next scene absolutely crashes across this one (even cutting the music dead) to one of just practical, dull driving – showing that life is not a montage.
Another moment in the film shows how maturity and reality can impact on such frivolity and cause a move beyond them really quickly. For some people this is a gradual creeping in life but for others it can be a dramatic change in their perception that causes this, while still leaving them in a young person's body. Although it is of course dramatic (and occurring very easily) the film does make this point well. If it has a downside I would say that time constraint and the goal of the film does mean that a lot of ground gets covered in a very short time, almost necessitating broad strokes, however it still works.
The performances are natural and engaging while the film looks and sounds very good – with great shots and cinematography. The narrative may move quickly but it is such a great commentary on youth that it is hard not to be engaged in its reality and thus go with its extremes.
three friends
Kirpianuscus24 October 2022
I suppose , the high simplicity of story represents the main source of seduction of this film. Three youngster - two boys, a girl and their trip in Sevilla. The enthusiasm, joy and full of familiar emotions scenes. A childish gesture of teribilism; its traumatic consequence . The silence and the hommage to their friend.
A film who you feel . As precise, fair definition of youth. As a drama and portrait of friendship. As an accident and its seeds in the memory of closed others.
In short, a wise crafted work, intense emotion, beautiful cinematography, and a large circle of significances of jumping from a bridge. Poetic in profound sense, provocative in gentle manner.
A film who you feel . As precise, fair definition of youth. As a drama and portrait of friendship. As an accident and its seeds in the memory of closed others.
In short, a wise crafted work, intense emotion, beautiful cinematography, and a large circle of significances of jumping from a bridge. Poetic in profound sense, provocative in gentle manner.
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