Racism, whether subtle or blatant, is an important and popular issue in our society today. The protagonist of the short film Bark, encounters both these types as she navigates the trial and tribulations of modern day high school. Growing up to an absent African American father and Caucasian mother proves to set her on an interesting path in life, confusing at times but with it's own morals and lessons nonetheless.
And thus Bark, which is written and directed by Laura Coleman, finds a vivid way of entertaining the audience while getting through some very important topics. The directing is top notch, and while the supporting cast may falter at times, the story pushes along, engaging the audience in every scene. The vibe is youthful and wide-eyed, curious to discover ones own background as well as what's to come in life.
I would say this is one of the better examples of storytelling. It really kept me involved, and I could feel the emotions of the characters. I was really rooting for young Eva Coleman, our protagonist. The young actress has something undeniably special, and I hope I see her in more films in the future. It's a film that really surprised me and spoke to me.
I would highly recommend watching this gem.
8 stars
