Diaspora

This short film was mysterious during the first half and that captured my attention. The acting was good, I wanted to continue watching. The set was developing the plot, changing as the years went by. The film is silent except for music which makes a sad but beautiful mood. The film made me think of immigrant families and how life in a new country can be difficult. A male audience would be pleased by the female cast, they are pretty and attractive. I could see how the mother was a devoted wife and supported her husband. Her husband appears to be the main character in the film. He seemed like a proud man that wanted the best for his family. I could detect some guilt, that perhaps his choices were not perfect.

This short film quickly puts you in the life of a young family, and allows your eyes and ears to witness beauty while forcing your mind to connect the dots between each picture.

Diaspora, as defined by the title, is the story of a young family, trying to make a new life in a new country, and at the risk of spoiling the story, I will stop right here.

Instead, I will focus the next few words on what grabbed me. First of all, the music is absolutely fantastic. It has a very important role to the picture, and thus must be perfect. To me, it sounds a bit like a mixture of a Ludovico Einaudi and a Jean-Michel Jarre piece - very humbling - deep with emotions.

The cinematography is phenomenal, and I must add that the colours almost force you to think "foreign".

The actors are fantastic! It is very rare that you allow yourself to connect with the characters given such a short film. Here, gestures, movements, looks, and even stills are perfectly placed to complete the story in minutes.

I'd say spend the next five to watch it...

Diaspora is film in which both content and aesthetic are poetic and powerful through their subtlety. Like most successful pieces of art that explore a profound social issue, the power of Diaspora's messages comes not from charged dialogue or exposition, but from the power of "what isn't said." It's found in the lonesome stare of a young boy gazing off into the urban landscape. It's found in a mother's furrowed brow as she struggles to hold a family together. Diaspora is written and directed in such a way that the viewer can understand how the challenges of immigrant life play out in a family without directly being told what those challenges are.

The music and imagery are rich and emotive, allowing us to appreciate the actors' subtle expressions and gestures. The transition between time periods is smooth and believable. All in all, this film captures everything that is great about a short film - simple, beautiful to watch and leaves you wanting more.