directed by:
Chris Esper written by: Chris Esper genre: Doc |
Sometimes the easiest way to convey a message is to just do it. Have something you want to reflect upon, or have others reflect upon? Keep it simple, to the point, and on point. Movies, especially short ones, don't always need to be overly complicated, overly produced, or even have a single line of dialog - sometimes when done correctly, less can definitely be more and the possibilities of reflection numerous. "Yesteryear" from Chris Esper is the textbook example of everything I've just stated - right down to the dialog-free narrative. It's a film that's incredibly straight forward with what it wants to accomplish, yet completely hostage to its simplistic nature - and the mind of whoever happens to be watching. The title of this piece by itself is enough to get the mind going, and the imagery, the way it's pieced together, and general flow does the rest. Esper's movie instantly lets you know what it's about, but leaves the imagination free to ramble within the viewers' personal experiences. "I remember when..."
It's really amazing at how much brain candy this film contains - considering it's just over ten minutes in length. Even cooler, when you consider that there really is no story here - not in the standard way anyhow. "Yesteryear" is a movie that gets the memory banks of your brain turning again - and also adds a hefty helping of nostalgia for those within almost any age group. The easiest way to describe it is to call it one giant montage, yet using that term by no means does this movie any justice. There's just something very cool about not just the concept, but the presentation as well. For me personally, the scene involving the NES was a powerful one - but I can easily write that there's probably a scene depicting other images that will do it for others.
I also gave some thought to the ebb and flow of the film - and the feelings that went through my mind through different segments of the movie. I credit this to the expertly edited material, and the idea to slightly go against the perceived norms of what a movie should be. Doing something a little different has paid off in spades - "Yesteryear" glides by without a hitch to complain about. Personal experiences will definitely vary from person to person, but one thing is crystal clear. "Yesteryear" is a smart little film that visually represents two words - in an excellently stylistic way, "Remember when..." A solid four stars in my books, and since it's free to watch - what's stopping you? |
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