This year there will be four shorts strands curated by Festival programmer Sarah McIntosh: BELOVED, CONNECTION, LIFE LESSONS and a diptych of TWINS strands. Here’s a sneak peek at a short from LIFE LESSONS: COWBOY BEN.
Capturing urban angst and the stress of middle age (divorce, bills and the dead end job) is a theme often covered in cinema. Loss remembered and then borne out in frustration, to be regained in moments of hope, often manifested in and by the love of others. The breakdown and the road to recovery are the meat and potatoes of many a story, but COWBOY BEN does not attempt redemption, and that is what makes the film work.
At a little over 7 minutes, directors Jon Shaikh and Scott Rawsthorne have to do a lot. Tony Burke’s script is tight enough to let you know quickly what is happening, which allows you to be aware of the rest of the room, of furtive glances here and there. It also releases the viewer to concentrate on the lead, Shaun Dooley, who is captivating. His opposite number (Ramon Tikaram, KAMA SUTRA) is no less enthralling as both bubble with pent up anger and unspoken frustration, although in the latter’s character it is totally understandable. The pumping music follows the pace of the drama perfectly. Building slowly to a skewed crescendo, a three note thumping beat acts like a leitmotif to Cowboy Ben’s emotions as he is taunted and cajoled in to the actions he ultimately takes – actions we know he has in truth already decided on.
Shanikh and Rawsthorne make a decent fist of a story that leaves the viewer less shocked than they should be; but the performances, pace and style of the film lift it above the ordinary. It is, however, the lack of compromise at the end that means the film stays with you, demanding your attention for longer than the slim running time of the piece itself.
See COWBOY BEN at the LIFE LESSONS screenings on 2nd September at 20.00 and on 3rd September at 23.00.
COWBOY BEN screens alongside LESSONS LEARNED by Toby Froud – view the trailer below.
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