The True Meaning Of Life In Red Rover
The True Meaning of Life, Brought to Light in 'Red Rover' by Kellyrose Marry
What would you do if the world was ending? What in life is important to us? What is the meaning of it all?
While these questions are often jokingly or existentially pondered, they often go unaddressed. Red Rover, a short about two teenagers from a remote religious community seeking the truth after their parents tell them the apocalypse is coming, attempts to address those questions.
Red Rover
The film opens with a young boy John, the son of two evangelical Christian parents, he is sent upstairs to get his sister Lauren who is audibly crying behind a vivid white curtain. She is framed in the still, a pinnacle of innocence and despair. When John pulls the curtain back Lauren wipes her tears away and earnestly makes her brother promise not to eat the food her parents are serving.
The apocalypse is coming-or so Lauren has been told. An asteroid is coming and will cause catastrophic results to the earth. Laurens parents, as well as other party guests arrive. The children, …show more content…
Johnny, Lauren, and Lauren's best friend Conrad are served the food in their room and then instructed to get into bed. Lauren however does not believe her parents and defies them by stuffing the poisoned meal into napkins and hiding them under her bed, she then convinces Conrad to go with her into town to discover what is really happening.
The word 'striking' does not begin to do justice to the impact this short has on it's viewer. From the pale, bleak lighting, echoing the main characters hopeless moods, to the genius sound editing of the children hearing the adults drop one by one at the dinner table due to the poisoned meal, this story rocks you to your very core and calls the question of faith and morality right to the forefront of your thoughts. From it's tight off kilter angles, stark closeups, and vast landscape shots, the cinematography of the short brings the horrors of cultism and Jonestown to the perspective of the viewer. Not often does a film combine a strong plot with masterful camera craft, but Red Rover seems to do just that.
Without the mystery and wonder of this film being spoiled for potential viewers the bond Lauren and Cochran display is that of perseverance and innocence in the face of unimaginable- even otherworldly adversity.
Through the eyes of these two teenagers, this film is not so much about the end of the world but rather the meaning of life. They cry, they laugh, and most importantly, they depend on one another, their fellow human, for support.
With all of the elements in place for the definition of a perfect piece of film, Red Rover went on to Win at the Rouben Mamoulian film festival, Award for Best Director at Sydney Film Festival, the Canon Award for Best Director in an Australian Short Film at Flickerfest and Best Director at St Kilda Film Festival.
Hopefully this is the first of many films we see from writer/ director Brook Goldfinch addressing life, youth, uncertainty, and most importantly the meaning of
life.
What would you do if the world was ending? What in life is important to us? What is the meaning of it all?
While these questions are often jokingly or existentially pondered, they often go unaddressed. Red Rover, a short about two teenagers from a remote religious community seeking the truth after their parents tell them the apocalypse is coming, attempts to address those questions.
Red Rover
The film opens with a young boy John, the son of two evangelical Christian parents, he is sent upstairs to get his sister Lauren who is audibly crying behind a vivid white curtain. She is framed in the still, a pinnacle of innocence and despair. When John pulls the curtain back Lauren wipes her tears away and earnestly makes her brother promise not to eat the food her parents are serving.
The apocalypse is coming-or so Lauren has been told. An asteroid is coming and will cause catastrophic results to the earth. Laurens parents, as well as other party guests arrive. The children, …show more content…
Johnny, Lauren, and Lauren's best friend Conrad are served the food in their room and then instructed to get into bed. Lauren however does not believe her parents and defies them by stuffing the poisoned meal into napkins and hiding them under her bed, she then convinces Conrad to go with her into town to discover what is really happening.
The word 'striking' does not begin to do justice to the impact this short has on it's viewer. From the pale, bleak lighting, echoing the main characters hopeless moods, to the genius sound editing of the children hearing the adults drop one by one at the dinner table due to the poisoned meal, this story rocks you to your very core and calls the question of faith and morality right to the forefront of your thoughts. From it's tight off kilter angles, stark closeups, and vast landscape shots, the cinematography of the short brings the horrors of cultism and Jonestown to the perspective of the viewer. Not often does a film combine a strong plot with masterful camera craft, but Red Rover seems to do just that.
Without the mystery and wonder of this film being spoiled for potential viewers the bond Lauren and Cochran display is that of perseverance and innocence in the face of unimaginable- even otherworldly adversity.
Through the eyes of these two teenagers, this film is not so much about the end of the world but rather the meaning of life. They cry, they laugh, and most importantly, they depend on one another, their fellow human, for support.
With all of the elements in place for the definition of a perfect piece of film, Red Rover went on to Win at the Rouben Mamoulian film festival, Award for Best Director at Sydney Film Festival, the Canon Award for Best Director in an Australian Short Film at Flickerfest and Best Director at St Kilda Film Festival.
Hopefully this is the first of many films we see from writer/ director Brook Goldfinch addressing life, youth, uncertainty, and most importantly the meaning of
life.