Cubs

When this short film started, I knew nothing about it and had no idea what to expect. In hindsight, this is probably the best way to see this film--without preconceptions. Because of this, I really can't discuss much about the film because I don't want to ruin the film. Let's just say that they take an ancient event and re-frame it in a modern setting--and by doing so, they provide new insight into a once-popular "sport".

However, what I can talk about are the technical aspects of the film. The acting is just fine, though the skills of the director in how they presented the film are really the stars. However, and this is important to note, that this is an unpleasant and violent film to watch. You'll hear a lot of cursing but also see realistic violence that many will find disturbing--though I could understand and justify why they chose to show this violence up close and personal.

An excellent but not particularly enjoyable film.

A young man wants to join an inner-city gang and waits to be selected by leader Karl. When he is picked though he finds out that the initiation into the gang is a violent blood sport – the hunting of an inner city fox.

This short film won the BBC3 award for best new filmmaker 2006 and it is indeed an enjoyable and impressive short. The plot deals mostly with an urban fox hunt and is quite exciting and difficult to stomach at the same time. Narrative wise the action and the basic, unexpanded scenario is enough to hold the interest but outside of that the point of it was lost on me somewhat – was it a condemnation of inner-city violence or was it a condemnation of fox hunting with the film forcing those that support the hunts to do so when it is carried out by hoodies. It isn't clear which of these (or another) it is trying ot do but it does make you think about it yourself which is a good thing.

The cast features a good but typical turn from Walters (who is putting himself around well) but I felt more could have been done with the main character Ben played by Eden. As the material doesn't have time for depth, he is left with simple emotions to play out; he does it well enough but I did want more. Harper's direction is good and he has uses real locations well and made this world feel convincing. Overall then an engaging and difficult short film that is not perfect but is interesting for what it does do.