Caroline

"Caroline" is a gripping short film co-directed and written by Celine Held and Logan George. Over the course of 12 blood-pumping minutes, the film provokes a debate about the clash between individual and societal morals. Based on true events, the film follows the titular character, Caroline, as she and her two younger siblings are left in a vehicle on a sweltering day while their struggling and single mother attends a job interview.

The film starts in medias res as the mother (Celine Held) desperately searches for a babysitter after her intended babysitter bails at the last minute. Although it is clear the mother is trying to do her best under the circumstances, she ultimately makes a choice to task her eldest daughter, Caroline (Caroline Falk), with supervising her younger siblings in the car while she goes into a strip mall for the interview.

Although leaving young children in a hot car is dangerously wrong, the situation is presented in such a way that the audience can sympathise with the mother's position. Cinematic and theatrical effects such as diegetic sound, close up shots and shaky camera movement make the realistic portrayal of the situation even more believable. The mother clearly loves her children and desperately needs this job to support them but has been put between a rock and a hard place with no help from the state or from friends and family.

Nevertheless the minute the mother leaves her children in the car the audience knows that the situation will not end well and nail biting drama unfolds from there.

No wonder this short has won so many awards, it is a brilliant made film. So intensive and filled with emotion, what all films should be!

12 minutes of tension and uncertainty heightened by the blazing sun and the intermittent cries from the children. The short film "Caroline" follows of a young girl, Caroline, as her desperate mother is forced to leave her and her siblings alone in an attempt to secure a job during her job interview. Her mother leaves them in the car during a hot summer day. The issue arising when their babysitter does not pick them up as planned and they are instead approached by a stranger with unknown intentions while their mother is absent.

The film uses close-ups and tilted frames along with a shaky camera as it portrays a stressfully realistic scenario. The camera techniques does not allow you to get a clear and calm image of the situation, allowing one to be fully immersed in the emotions of the young girl. It ties in with the emotions of Caroline as the story is told through her limited and child-like perspective. The cries of her baby siblings as well as her harried yet caring mother's desperation adds to the crafting of the tension and unease Caroline feels when confronted with the unfamiliar situation. It is about Caroline. Her emotions and perspectives regarding the events, leaving her and the audience much in the dark to the specific details (a child's innocence and ignorance) of the events occurring while still leaving enough evidence for the audience to comprehend more fully what a child cannot.

With sensational acting from the characters, Catherine Held playing the mother in a convincing and moving play with the young girl. The film displays the dilemma of what a person must do what the best decision would be as they are backed into a corner or left with no options or proper aid.

Wow, that was an intense short film. I can see a mom struggling with three young children like this. If a film leaves me wanting to see more, I know I've become involved in the story. And isn't that the point?

Provoked a emotional response from its audience. Whether you connect with the characters or not it's a memorable short film that allows the audience to be immersed in the storyline. The story follows a young girl and her family as she deals with the harshness of the inner workings of society. The single mother of three decides to leave her children inside the car on a hot Texas summer day in order to attend a job interview that she desperately needs. The views sympathize with her even though her actions were morally incorrect. As she frantically attempts to find a solution for the issue at hand. Her helplessness is present from the first moment of the film and escalates as the film progresses. By making the viewpoint Caroline, an innocent and vulnerable child, we the audience become conflicted between siding with the mother and her situation and what society norms.

The relationship between the director (Held) and children really shone though in this film, to make a believable and authentic performance. Inorder to create this bond both directors moved in with the children for a period of time in order establish a more comfortable atmosphere. The children acting has very impressive as it made the audience feel uncomfortable

This unique storyline and well executed acting made the film worthy of the praise it received. My criticism on the film was the little backstory it gave to what led up to the events at hand. Viewers had to make many assumption about the living and financial situation of the mother. The film exerted many emotions but abrupt ending made me personally left with many emotions and unable to feel with it. I would recommend this film to a more mature audience as it addresses mature concepts about our society. Overall I thoroughly enjoy the craft of this film and would watch again.