directed by:
Konstantin Pivovar written by: Konstantin Pivovar genre: Drama |
The short and sweet of it? "My Train Leaves Tomorrow at 7 O'Clock" is a slick, polished film that simply feels like everything fell into just the right places. It's as complex as it is simple and has a haunting yet endearing quality that comes across as natural and unscripted. However, through all the airy and dream-like qualities this film visualizes - rests the genuinely dark nature that this short film sheds light on. A terrible truth that threads its way through this movie like a snake in the grass. Konstantin Pivovar's flick isn't about what dreams are made from - it's nightmare fuel. "My Train Leaves Tomorrow at 7 O'Clock" is a drama centering on abuse of the worst kind - parental.
It all starts cheery enough. Magical even. A young girl is getting herself ready for a trip, and as the clock on the wall inches closer to seven, the magical feeling of this short film only increases. As the train pulls in, it's pretty clear this girl is ready - and yet she simply watches through the window as her train arrives and quickly speeds away. By this point, astute viewers have sensed that everything is not all it looks to be, and as this young girl, young woman, retrieves a key and heads to the door, the big reveal takes place. There's nothing magical going on in this room except the imaginings of the featured young woman. It's haunting - and brilliant. If my rating of this short film doesn't run the train home, I'll add this tidbit. I was still thinking of this short film two full hours after watching it - and I'll probably still be thinking about it tomorrow. What really got me was the fact that this film has left so much to think about all within a ten-minute runtime. There is plenty of meat left on the bone for discussions long after watching. Yes, reader, this short film makes its point clearly, but it also leaves the door open to talk about after the fact. The topic is clearly "abuse," although you only see the tip of the iceberg demonstrated within the film itself. Yet if you look a little deeper, such as at the way our heroine cowers on the floor when her mother bursts in, you just know there is so much more to the story.
As for the visuals themselves? One word ... stellar. The look and feel of this short flick felt like that of a big studio production, and the engulfing piano score backing this film felt spot-on. From a childlike dream state to a full-fledged nightmare - all captured beautifully within a mere ten minutes. I especially loved the change as the young woman is ripped out of her fantasy world - taking us viewers along for the ride. Simply put? Excellent work all around. It's rare that I rate any film with four and a half stars, and I am more than a little surprised I enjoyed a "short" film enough to do so. In my humble opinion, this is just one of those movies that seem to have gotten everything right. What more is there to write? "My Train Leaves Tomorrow at 7 O'Clock" was excellent. Enough said. |
|
More To Check Out.
|
