Ask yourself......What would you do if your trust was shattered? Would you walk away or is revenge the only way?
What I liked about "Trust" is how Cush Berlyn, who makes his directorial debut, captures the problems faced in today's society of gang violence and the peer pressure on our young people to commit inner-city crime.
Berlyn also writes and stars as the main protagonist. Aaron, in the gritty, culturally current serial drama as lies and deceit spiral out of control. A chain of events unfolds which leave Aaron unsure of who to trust......but is Aaron all he seems?
The use of overhead drone shots of an empty multi-storey car park and the apartment with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the city skyline add to the cinematic edge Berlyn was striving to achieve. Medium close-up shots such as Aaron's side profile as he drives away has great framing and composition. The edit ensures the action is fast paced. The argument been Aaron and Shay (Andrea Martinez) is a high-intensity scene which reveal the cracks are beginning to show. The soundtrack is strangely unique, but in a good way, reminiscent of something you would hear in a Bond film, predominantly orchestral based, it complements the film well. Great use of both casting and costume design, not only is realistic of today's society, but fit each character, making them relatable to the audience. Through pure cinema alone it is suggested to the audience that crime does pay. We see top of the range executive cars being driven, whilst Shay glamorises the trappings and flaunts the wealth by wearing leather and fur. Like me, I'm sure the audience will look a little deeper and soon realise the ugly truth is a struggle for survival as the characters face up to the consequences of their actions.
The first episode in the series, "Trust" leaves the audience questioning not only the choices made by the characters; sheer recklessness or a devious plan fuelled by greed, but what they would do if they faced the same fate?
A must-see short film.
