Tempus

Loosely clutching a document in his right hand, an elderly man walks laboriously through a rustic setting. His pace slowly quickens. Finally, he runs to join an elderly woman who is, apparently, on her death bed… Clocking in at under five minutes, this is a very short film. However, it accomplishes everything needed. Given the popularity of music videos in the 1980s, followed by "YouTube" and the shortening attention span of each generation, short "motion pictures" should have regained more of their popularity. This is also a "silent" film, which is another genre worth revisiting...

Written and directed by Ian Clay, the narrative in "Tempus" is poetically conveyed. The characters are clearly a couple, who have (been) separated. With one now dying, there is an urgency for the old man, portrayed by Jonathan Kite, to join the old woman, portrayed by Ann Benson. Greg Cannom's makeup department contributes to Mr. Kite's convincing performance. The age-spotted close-up buffered something unnaturally telegraphed around the forehead, in a medium shot. Photography by Ben Griffin is exceptional. The score, by Jose Villalobos, moves the story without distracting...

Filmmakers tend to go crazy with technical gimmicks, but Mr. Clay effectively uses "slow motion" to move his story. This effect is used to reverse the ravages of time and gives the old man enough strength to make his trip. It also plays with the fact that the film runs very quickly. When I learned my mother was dying, I recall how slowly everything seemed to be moving. Rushing to the airport, I felt everything was moving in slow motion. When I neared home, I was running… but it still it wasn't fast enough. Finally, at her bedside, I felt like a small boy again. "Tempus" works.

******** Tempus (2015-04-20) Ian Clay ~ Jonathan Kite, Ann Benson

Tempus is directed by Ian Clay and stars Jonathan Kite and Ann Benson.

I was contacted by the director and asked to review my thoughts on this wonderful short film.

Firstly, the camera work is beautifully handled. Stunning. The visuals and setting go hand-in-hand to create an old 60s western tone, which pleases me beyond words as I've always loved the way westerns were created.

The acting by the, albeit small cast, is splendidly large in scale. Although the film is very short, the emotional connection is there within the first 30 seconds and you already want the characters to connect once more. The pacing is key in any film, and it's perfectly executed in this film. The visual style the director has achieved is really something. With the help of 3 time Oscar-winning make-up artist Greg Cannom, known for his work on Benjamin Button, and an Oscar-winning visual effects master, Jason Schulman, known for his work on Hugo, this film is captivating, heartfelt and touching.

Music by Jose Villalobos is stunningly crafted with dramatic string arrangements that please the ear and tie-in perfectly with the visuals throughout.

I do feel like the ending could have been treated with a little more care and rounded off smoothly, but that would have likely meant adding a couple more minutes to the running length which the director may not have been keen to do. Having said that, it's an incredibly well crafted short film and should be appreciated by all.

My verdict; Tempus is a beautiful tale of love and triumph, and delivers with expertise. This is a must-watch for any film fanatic.

Tempus, 9/10.

Having been contacted personally to watch and review Tempus, I was all for seeing it as it looked really interesting both conceptually and how it was described. After getting around to see it, it turned out to be a beautiful and incredibly well-executed short film.

One of Tempus' best assets is how fantastic it looks, leaving one transfixed to the screen until the end and even well beyond. It's gorgeously photographed courtesy of Ben Griffin, some of the shots are to die for, it is very cleverly and moodily lit with great attention to atmosphere and subtlety and the make-up and visual effects from Greg Cannom and Jason Schulman have a clear sense of professionalism (prior experience also shines through). The energy-pulsating but also whimsically poetic and hauntingly beautiful music from Jose Villalobos complements the short brilliantly, adding so much and enhancing and never distracting.

The story is, true, very slight, but the hynoptically surreal but also incredibly poetic atmosphere, the vast emotional impact and subtle nuances make one truly transfixed, it's a very relatable story dealt with in a poignant way. Tempus is superbly directed by Ian Clay, and is beautifully acted with such controlled nuance- without even saying a word- by Ann Benson and Jonathan Kite, their expressions speaking volumes.

With Tempus, there is very little to criticise. It maybe could have been two or three minutes longer so that the ending felt less rushed and with less of an 'over-too-soon' feel, but these are more personal preferences than objective criticisms.

Otherwise, this is one incredibly well-done short film and recommended highly. 8/10 Bethany Cox

There's a famous story out of American history involving Andrew Jackson on his deathbed and his friend and sometimes protégé Sam Houston. When Houston heard that Jackson was dying and raced from Texas with his young son to see his old friend before he died. No doubt Houston wished as Jonathan Kite did that his own age and infirmities could disappear, he wanted so much to see his mentor into eternity. He got there to the Hermitage, Jackson's estate too late by a couple of hours. Jackson's body was on his deathbed still as Houston and his little boy arrived. Houston told his son, "My son do not forget you are looking on the face of Andrew Jackson" with all due reverence.

We never do know if the elderly Kite summons off enough energy from his youthful past to make it to where his wife Ann Benson lays dying. I remember some 20 years ago I couldn't make it down a flight of stairs to see my own mother take a last breath. Death is such a fleeting thing and no one if they can wants to do it alone.

We're not sure if Kite makes it. As the film ends, a symbolic dove flies through the window meaning in my mind her soul moving on. It's a popular cultural symbol and effective.

Tempus runs just a hair short of four minutes. But it says all it wants to say about how fragile and transient life itself really is. Good show for everyone involved with this film.

Sometimes the simplest stories are the most compelling.

A man rushes to the bedside of his dying wife.

No sound except the lovely score by José Villalobos, which effectively helps convey emotion.

Told completely in slow-motion- an interesting creative choice.

It's visually impressive, jam packed with symbolism, and shows what can be done with not the largest budget, I'm guessing.

Clocking it at 3 minutes, it doesn't overstay it's welcome, but ends just at the right time and on the right note.

It moved me. I liked it. Check it out.