Water | Vattnet (2012)
Water | Vattnet (2012)
SYNOPSIS (BY WRITER AND DIRECTOR MARCO VAN BERGEN - FROM IMDB):
James (Tobias Kersloot) leads a lonely life in a luxurious castle. He never goes out with friends. One day he finds himself interested in an injured, handsome Swedish soccer player (Serge Mensink).
REVIEW:
Written and directed by Marco van Bergen, who was also behind Wastelands (2013), this Dutch 13-minute short is generally lacking, but with a believable message.
It is clear from the beginning that James is lonely and seems to hold some animosity against his controlling parents, especially his mother. He clearly feels like they do not know him on a personal level and don’t really understand him. He lacks intimacy and spends much of his time isolated in his room.
We see James looking out of his bedroom window watching a group of Swedish footballers who must be of a similar age to him and who are presumably staying at his parents’ hotel. He seems to watch the boys with a sort of longing curiosity.
James ends up encountering one of the boys injured, Tobias, and proceeds to help him and they build a brief connection that leads to a moment between the two of them. A moment which passes without fulfilment.
Water | Vattnet is ultimately a film about the damage and self-hatred that shyness and loneliness can lead to. Sometimes one misses opportunities out of fear, and I think this will resonate with a lot of people. When a person is isolated, they may be overwhelmed in the moment when there is the potential for human connection, and hold back when they shouldn’t.
We see the regret in James’s eyes when he realises he’s missed his opportunity and that the moment has passed. For some the ending may feel unfulfilling, as it may feel like the film is only just starting to build up, but many stories do end in this way. Potential is often unfulfilled due to insecurities, and it is realistic that some stories end when they just seem to be getting going. People panic in uncertain situations and this film is reflecting that.
However, this film has a rather hurried plot, with things seeming to happen very quickly and lacking a flow. There’s also a lot of filling in the blanks and lack of detail in this short which makes it feel a bit awkward. I do quite like the ending though – the missed moment – it feels believable, but the rest of the film is forgettable.
Favourite Quote:
“Thanks for helping me.” - Tobias
Tone: Chill
Score: 5/10
Other Observations:
James’s mother seems a bit off – she seems really controlling and possessive as if her sole purpose is to criticise James – there’s a definite lack of warmth from her.