Matthew Silas
-
2004
This is one of the best short films, and possibly the best live action short I've ever seen. It is in many ways the perfect short film.
A case may be made that long format films map well to short stories. In two hours, it's possible to tell a complete story, but it is rarely effective to attempt to capture the complexity of a full novel.
For a short film, then, it is imperative to tell the simplest and most concise story.
Reset does this impeccably. The film is just over a minute long. There is no time to set the stage, little time to develop characters, and the payoff has to be immediately and universally understood. Matthew Silas worked within all of these limitations and found ways to use them to his advantage.
In addition to the initial humor of the payoff, there's quite a bit to think about after the film ends. I'm curious what happens next to these two people. Are they destined to repeat the past, or do they actually have a chance to change the outcome of their lives?
Don't take my word on how good this is It's available on Matthew's website,
The Mandarin Picture Company. You can also view, rate, and review it yourself at
TriggerStreet.