Gin & Dry

It is Christmas time, and the elderly inhabitants of a residential home are tired of being bossed around. Determined to take matters into their own hands, they stage a midnight attack on their unsuspecting carer, and break into the stores to steal their forbidden booze. But are these really the spirits they need this Christmas?

This is a beautifully filmed short by film and animation company Capture. A shallow depth of field is employed to give warmth to this tale of ageism, passion and acceptance. Creative lighting and the twinkling of Christmas lights help create a festive mis-en-scene and set the tone of the film, while a nostalgic soundtrack evokes to the glory days of the generation who feel forgotten.

The unpredictable storyline keeps us on our toes right up until the final twist, but I would have like to have more made of the heist to create a give a greater sense of climax. Ultimately, the film teaches us to make the most of our lives and cherish each moment, before time eventually catches up with us

Gin & Dry perfectly demonstrates quite how much can be done in short-film format. What a brilliant gem of a film. While it is, on the face of it, a simple heist story set in an old people's home, it touches on themes of age, loss, companionship, and as a result triggers all kinds of emotions throughout.

The photography is incredibly elegant and the cinematic shots are enhanced with a stunning colour grade. All in all this film makes for a very satisfying visual experience. The visuals are further matched by a quality score and a soundscape that perfectly captures the old people's home. The soundscape is truly evocative, especially in moments when Albi pours himself a Gin & Dry.

The attention to detail is evident and this extends to the beautifully designed title cards which add a further level of class to the film.

Some of the performances are more effective than others, but the title role of Albi played by David de Keyser is perfectly pitched and truly moving.

The script is powerful and in less skilled hands some of the monologue may not have been so effective. But here it is beautifully pitched without being overly melodramatic or maudlin. A truly delicate balance is struck throughout.

This is definitely one to watch. I can't recommend it highly enough as a fantastic example of the short-film format.

It is not often that you come across a film that focuses solely upon the Elderly in a thought-provoking and amusing way, yet Gin & Dry has done this to perfection. Not only does it put a twist on the stereotypes we hold against old age, but it also leaves its audience with an underlying heart-rending message.

Albie is the perfect protagonist. He is presented as the wise and loving old man who knows he's lived his life to the full, which immediately gives the audience a reason to trust him. This is further reinforced by his emotional speech, which becomes the main turning point, providing the audience with a realisation that time does not last forever.

There was not one minute put to waste in this beautifully humorous short film. Every shot, character, piece of dialogue or music reflected the story that was being told. Scenes such as the lead-up to the heist gave a real sense of the idea that you will always remain young at heart, as the residents fight to be the first to reach the door. Yet these very scenes make the audience realise that the people who once fought for our freedom are the ones we treat with very little respect, as is presented in the character of Adam.

Adam's character becomes the only character the audience can relate to; the young man who believes he's got a hard life, because the residence won't co-operate with him. That being said Albie's speech to Adam is a direct message to youth, saying that as a generation we have lived life without the worries they overcame for us.

All in all, Gin & Dry, with its striking cinematography and lasting message, is most definitely worth a watch.

Gin and Dry is a heart warming short, a successful combination of comedy, drama and tragedy set against what could be a rather depressing backdrop, a retirement home. The film presents a burst of life; a group of child like pensioners staging a heist to save Christmas, or at least to make sure the holiday is a boozy occasion. This short being only 15 minutes results in a series of concise shots and smart story telling. Opening with a sequence of beautifully shot close ups, the film maintains a warm tone, the pink and brown hues of Twin Willows, the soft lighting of Albie's room and out of focus Christmas lights. The simple soundtrack of Billie Holiday's I'll Be Seeing You is perfectly suited. David de Keyser's performance as our protagonist Albie is outstanding. Although we are only given a brief insight into his life, the audience is drawn in to really care for him. Albie's war references and musing on life drawing to a close, bring a melancholy air to Gin and Dry, making it much more than a short about an elderly bunch stealing alcohol. Although the heist is not overly developed, development of this scene would likely have brought more comic value to the film, this short's progression into a sentimental piece feels quite natural. Steering clear of cheap laughs but providing comic relief Gin and Dry is an extremely moving piece, a poignant look at the last years of life. Dealing with memory and the emotions of a group who are often forgotten about, Gin and Dry should not be dismissed as just a sugary Christmas film, and is most certainly worth watching.

Gin & Dry evoked powerful thought and emotion, feeling like a real feat within fifteen minutes. Themes of ageing, the fragility that comes as a result, the often difficult transition between self reliance and dependence, are all touched on with sensitivity and a twist of comedy. What could have easily been portrayed as a dreary setting in an old people's home was shot beautifully, clever use of contrast and colours, an intricate play of camera focus and perfectly fitting music.

I thought the central character of Albie was brilliantly cast; you warm to him from the first scene. As the plot unfolds he holds key importance in the 'heist', his speech-like dialogue to the head carer resonates to the audience and the relationship he has with his long term partner definitely unfolds with grace. The close up head shots of both Albie and his wife make you very much focus on expression, and the emotive words that the characters are speaking.

The heist sequence did seem some-part rushed, but I felt it was a good energetic peak mid- film, that again brought the comedic value of the situation to a head.

Overall I thought this was a lovely and powerful short, that poses the question of whether anyone can really decide what is 'right' or 'wrong' at the later stage of one's life, the pain brought and reality of getting old, whilst being aesthetically pleasing to the eye and using comedy cleverly to convey the story.