Butterfly on a Wheel
Rating: 5/5
By: Nathaniel Simpson
I'm sure everyone has something going on in their life that holds them back. Whether it is a fear of the unknown, a condition that person has, or something standing in their way from achieving their dreams, everyone has challenges in their lives, whether they are hidden or not. That is the case for Jacen (Curran Walters), who struggles with his OCD and anxiety, in Trevor Morris' short film directorial debut, Butterfly on a Wheel. The film, which is superbly acted, directed, written, and a stellar soundtrack composed by Morris, presents the beautiful message that you can do anything, even if there is something pulling you back.
This is definitely a character-driven piece, and a lot of this film falls on the shoulders of Walters. His character is shown struggling with the OCD tendencies he has in place, which also gives him loads of anxiety because he doesn't want to be perceived as different or weird. Not only does he struggle with this condition and own mental health, but he is also trying to keep up with his studies as a gifted musician in college. There is not a doubt in my mind that Walters was a fantastic choice for this role, and it is obvious he gives this performance so much care and dedication. Then, when we see Jacen playing the piano, this sense of childlike wonder and joy is present, which reminds me of Miles Teller in Whiplash or Ryan Gosling in La La Land. This is such an important role and the character of Jacen is incredibly inspirational, and Walters works with Morris to craft not only this character, but his anxieties that are present on the screen.
The climax of the film shows Jacen coming to head with his own inner thoughts and anxiety that he is different from everyone else (due to a past traumatic experience). Not only is Walters' performance here so good in terms of the character and what he is going through, but the scene is shot so well and incredibly accurate to those with anxiety. There is anxiety in all of us, and sometimes we reach that breaking point where we just snap. Morris was able to capture that feeling incredibly well, and really tugs on the heartstrings of the viewer.
Morris, who was already established as a composer and music producer before jumping into filmmaking, crafts an excellent script that showcases the struggles our character goes through. We really get into the mindset of the character of Jacen, and how he lives his everyday life and pushes through despite the setbacks that are placed before him. He sets this film against the backdrop of Toronto, beautifully capturing the city and the sights around Jacen with cinematographer Scott McClellan. The entire movie is very beautiful and shows off the magic of the city, Jacen's apartment, and the music hall he practices in, all while being juxtaposed by the mental struggles that Jacen is going through. I also want to comment on the great score from Morris as well, which really adds to the magic of the city and the music that Jacen is playing.
At the same time, the movie is also showing his interactions with other people around him, including his brother Dylan (Michael Provost) and Sorrel (Brielle Robillard), who he just met through his music and lands a date with. These supporting characters are there to wonderfully complement the character of Jacen, and their roles in the film are crafted to show how our main character is able to form relationships with them. I think both actors here are fantastic in their respective roles as well, and I appreciate the complexity of their relationships with Jacen and how they affect him as a person. It is great writing from Morris combined with these two great actors to capture some special supporting characters.
Some of the best short films work so well because of the message they are conveying throughout the story, and this is easily a great example of that. Not only is the message conveyed very well to the audience, but the filmmaking aspects of the picture simply work beautifully. For Morris' directorial debut, this is a fantastic film to start your filmmaking career, and he should be really proud of what he was able to capture here.
Comments
Post a Comment