The Arrival (2016) - Fifth Set Work Review

Title: The Arrival

Year: 2016

Director: Daniel Montanarini

Running Time: 5 minutes

Genre: Drama/Monologue

I really enjoyed the simplicity of The Arrival. The coupling of the internal monologue recording with the choreography is extremely well executed. The limitation of camera movement to one simple static zoom is incredibly powerful and perfectly accompanies the dialogue; the centering of the character captures your attention and the zoom holds it, until the camera is blocked by the man, just like the main character's thoughts. The lighting in the middle section (between the zooming in and zooming out) is a great device too. It really represents the inner workings of the main character's head.
All the timing in this short is impeccable.

For my own work, I might take inspiration from the powerful simplicity. Perhaps not using it for the whole film like they Montanarini does here, but for effect in one or two scenes.

"We wanted to achieve something cinematic, simple and personal." They definitely did.

Two thumbs up from me!

(Quote by Daniel Montanarini, taken from Short of the Week.)