Short Takes: Manchester Film Festival- The Opening Gala

On March 2nd I headed down to Manchester’s Printworks complex to see the opening of the 3rd Manchester Film Festival. But before the main feature (Alfie Boe: On the Wheels of a Dream, the review will be up soon), we got to see 3 very brilliant short films. So to launch this new strand, here are the reviews of those 3 shorts, just as they are about to kick off the Closing Night Gala. How apt.

THE LAST LAUGH

SYPNOSIS: 'The Laugh Laugh’ sees three iconic, British comedians, Tommy Cooper, Eric Morecambe and Bob Monkhouse sitting in a dressing room discussing the secret of comedy. We see the lightening wit and quick-fire quips which made these comedians great. But as the film scratches a little deeper, we catch a glimpse of their insecurities: the niggling doubt of whether a joke is funny enough and how the fear of ‘dying’ drives them on a never-ending quest for that next big laugh.

Paul Hendy’s short was a great way to open the festival, and while it may be a drama rather than a comedy, it is a fitting tribute to 3 of Britain’s best known comedians. Hendy’s direction is very nice and heartfelt, and with some incredibly convincing performances from his cast, the 19 minute running time simply flies by. The script is great, the likenesses are there, and the laughs are definitely present throughout.

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ONE LAST DANCE

SYPNOSIS: Set in the faded grandeur of Herne Bay on the Kent coast, ONE LAST DANCE tells the story of three generations of men, lost love and the intimacy of a dance.

Kickstarter really does seem to be the go-to place for quality film nowadays- and this magnificent short from Luke Losey is another example of why crowd-funding is becoming more popular. It is beautifully written, and having Jonathan Pryce (best known to Game of Thrones fans as the High Sparrow) on board adds to the high production qualities of this short. The performances are very good, and the cinematography and writing are of a quality that I can say that it is on a par with a feature length film. Deeply moving and profound, this was a really nicely made 14 minutes- and considering the fact that it was made for £18,000, this is quite a big achievement.

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TAUBMAN

SYPNOSIS: A piano tuners application for a passport has been referred to a face to face consultation with the heartless ‘Interviewer’ who appears to revel in the misfortune of others. As the tale goes on we learn why the application has been rejected, however, not willing to take it lying down he turns the tables on the Interviewer and Government, revealing truths that have long been hidden.

And here is my highlight from the night. Ben Price’s short has all the qualities of a great feature- drawing upon stories from his family, Taubman’s plot is so unique that with enough development, I can easily see a 2 hour film based on this short. Price’s direction is first class, and with two great performances from Jack P Shepherd and Ian Puleston-Davies, this is one of the rare things that makes me love independent film.

And yes, all 3 shorts achieved a 5 star rating from me.

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Find out more about the Manchester Film Festival by visiting their website or following them on Twitter (@ManIFFofficial).