Hats off to filmmakers who try their hand at short films. It can be hard enough to in any way tell a story in the space of 10 minutes, let alone one that can elicit an emotional reaction or be thought-provoking. Eva Michon's 'Small fry' is, well, small, but ultimately feels a bit bigger as it subtly draws us in.
There's little to speak of in terms of the production; all is well, with Lucia Ribisi and Robert Gonera aptly filling our screens in their understated roles. The meat of this 7-minute short is in what it conveys with what's left unsaid.
What we get is a great deal of unspoken tension, familiar to anyone who is less than best friends with their parents. We don't know its source, but it's not hard to guess at it after the father spills his news to his visiting daughter. After an unexpected turn in the tiny narrative, the film ends with a sense of innocence lost, or perhaps of a renewed bond. Whether it's one or the other, or both, depends on the viewer's interpretation.
There is nothing profound about 'Small fry'; no great artistic statement, no startlingly absorbing tale in such a quick format. Its achievement is in telling a very simple story, and conveying definite feelings through it, in a very minute duration. Not everyone can successfully craft a short film that engages our attention on another level, however slight, but Eva Michon has done just that - creating a quick, bite-size picture to activate our emotions and stir our appetite for something more filling. I'd be curious to see more of their work.
