Am Ende der Wald

Greetings again from the darkness. It takes strong writing, directing and acting to generate extreme tension in a 30 minute short film. Director Felix Ahrens and writer Lucas Flasch accomplish just that aided by a terrific performance from Henrike von Kuick. Being a German/Czech based project, it raises the question on whether the justification of police shootings is under the same scrutiny as in the U.S.

German police officer Elke (Ms. Von Kuick) make a routine traffic stop. When the driver takes off running into the woods, Elke breaks protocol and chases him while her partner secures the passenger. The camera work in this segment is stellar. We feel her disorientation and caution at the possibility of being blindsided. The shooting brings immediate doubt and remorse, and severely impacts her career and personal life. There is also an element of police instincts versus the existing evidence. Even having a gut-feeling proved correct may not be sufficient for justice.

A questionable decision to visit the victim's family leads to a terrific sequence with Elke, her child, and the victim's sister, mother and two brothers. The tension is nearly unbearable as Elke struggles to apologize while simultaneously keeping herself and toddler son safe. Sometimes the price we pay for a bad decision is inordinately high, and remember, there's always time for revenge. This is one that could effectively be transitioned to a feature length film.