Author Archives: tr103625

In The Confession the conventional themes of death and tragedy are presented and altered into an innovative piece of brilliancy, as an innocent schoolboy accidentally commits an act so appalling, viewers are left leaving their theaters filled with a chilling feeling, difficult to shake.

Director Tanel Toom’s live action short film truly reaches the expectations of what a noteworthy Oscar nominated film should possess.

The film begins with the routine of an average day for nine-year-old Sam, filled with school, games, and constant reminders of Christ. As the movie progresses, we learn Sam’s most arduous dilemma is finding a sin to fill his clear conscious. This problem turns into one of entertainment for Sam and his friend as their innocent trick on a tractor driver to cure Sam from his dilemma turns tragic, leaving Sam with guilt so severe that he continues to perform acts of dismay.

Toom executes the film inventively with a shattering climax and conclusion, transforming the once whimsical film into one of both horror and tragedy.

A question I kept asking myself throughout the film was, “where was God?”

Is it fair that a boy, whose biggest sin was locking his sister in a closet, has to now deal with the guilt of causing the death of others? It seems God was removed from Sam’s life once he removed the scarecrow from his position on the cross, which explains why the “tractor driver” drives from the scene moments before tragedy strikes.

“You have to tell the truth, God knows all,” says Sam’s priest. Yeah, well, so does the tractor driver.

The tractor driver is always seen from a distance and is present in Sam’s daily routine. However, is never actually seen by viewers, just as there is no actual figure of God, portraying him to be God. This abandonment of God is a feeling universal to many Christians, feeling a sense of loss in their faith in their most traumatic and heart wrenching hour.

Toom has experience representing religious themes in his work. In his 2008 short film The Second Coming, the portrayal of a man’s struggle with his brother’s death is so immense he refuses to bury his body in hopes of his Christ-like resurrection. This theme is one Toom has excellently used in both films.

The theme and tone of The Confession are similar to last year’s Academy Award live action short film winner.

In Joachim Back’s The New Tenants, the genres of drama, tragedy, and death are also depicted. In the film, two tenants move into an apartment building practically moments before finding out their apartment was the center of a crime scene not long ago. As the former tenant’s past comes back to haunt these two men, they are forced to witness the unpredictable death of a neighbor and her family.

According to viewer Amanda Santoro “After watching the short films, I was not exactly sure what to look for that would make one of them prestigious enough to win the award. After watching last year’s winner, I realized The Confession has all the elements to win, and more.”

Many thoughts entered my mind as I sat in the IFC Theater anticipating the start of the Live Action Short Films.

As opposed to listening to my iPod or getting my mind off of my problems by reading a book, there is something about watching a short film that leads me to spend hours searching for the perfect one to fit my current mood.

With short films ranging from about 10-25 minutes, a person’s mood can change from down, to cheerful and absolutely inspired in only a matter of minutes. I guess that is why I have a love for short films and decided to make one last summer.

I purchased a video camera, pitched an idea to my friend with a similar passion and together, we wrote a brilliant screenplay. Unfortunately, our actors (friends) fell through, she went back to college, and I was left with a video camera and a dream.

Plan B didn’t work out either. Trying to persuade my parents to let me transfer to the New York Film Academy didn’t go very well.

So there I was, sitting in the last row of the movie theater with my organic popcorn and a notebook, watching my former dreams, which I had abandoned until that moment, right in front of me coming true for others. As I watched these short films I could not help but critique them with my friend, “This should have happened instead.” “That character should have said this line.” “We could have made a better short film.”

The experience of watching these short films at the IFC Theater was an unforgettable one which reminded me of my former dream of making a short film and ignited it once again.

Who knows, maybe one day I can make a short film and it will be up there for all to see.

In the words of Henry David Thoreau, “go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you have imagined.”