Review: To Be Alone (2017)
Grief can be a long journey; sometimes lasting months or years. It's a never-ending cycle causing a whirlwind of emotions. William (Timothy J. Cox) has lost something dear to him. It can't possibly be replaced.
+ Recommended - NR, Drama, Short
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Grief can be a long journey; sometimes lasting months or years. It's a never-ending cycle causing a whirlwind of emotions. William (Timothy J. Cox) has lost something dear to him. It can't possibly be replaced.
An actor of Timothy's caliber can express that whirlwind of emotions without any words necessary. While we don't know the exact circumstance surrounding William and the reason for his grief, we are able to gauge that he cares very much about other people. In stark contrast, William spends much of the film alone. There's a certain familiarity of his actions and to his daily routine that people will recognize if they have been in a situation of loss before.
The film is strikingly beautiful thanks to the Director of Photography, Jonathon Giannotte. If you were to pause the film, at any point, I can almost guarantee that you will find that still frame-worthy. Mathew Mahler (writer-director) ensures that every movement and scene is purposeful; not one was added to lengthen the run-time. Without hardly any dialogue you can understand the premise of what's happening on screen at any given second. Remarkably, there's an hint of ambiguity that isn't explored completely and at the end of the film you're left with that; settling deep into your bones.At points where the film needed silence, there was. At points where there needed to be some semblance of sound, there was. We have Jack Fitzmaurice to thank for the incredible sound design! Transitioning from those silent scenes to louder ones is a tricky bit. On one hand, you could argue that weaving in and out can sometimes be exhausting for audiences. However, in To Be Alone, the pace relies on there being enough time to sulk in the silence but also to be jerked from it.
Overall, the film is worthy of your attention. At just under 13 minutes, it's an accessible viewing experience for those who love film. You can check it out here and let us know what you think of it in the comments!