GLIMPSE OF CHILDHOOD
dir. Nizami Murtuzayev

At first, it is notable in the short film A Glimpse of Childhood that the artistic team behind the film clearly know the craft of filmmaking and does have excellent skills to tell stories through that medium, whether they have a professional background or not. The set design, the camera work and the lightening do hold hands well together and give a holistic picture of the world being told, which is through the eyes of a young girl who experiences the disfunction and disconnectedness of her family, with her as the youngster being left alone. The use of the background sound to increase the mood is also a clever decision. There were parts though like when the protagonist and the father (or stepfather?) where together on the floor having a personal conversation where it was hard to follow the dialogue through the low intimate voice, which made it harder to understand the exact family constellation. The family story is being told in an implosive way. Conversations and communication do have a low-key atmosphere but small hints as in hands holding being refused, scars on the mother's wrists and her sudden decision of leaving, quarrels through closed doors shows the families volatile state.

But – the stakes underneath the surface could be higher meaning that the drama could be more. That could both been worked better out in the script itself or through the direction. Even if we could feel the loneliness of the young girl - her situation somehow always stayed safe and her situation the same. There was never a moment which gave the audience the thought that something could escalate or have effect on the observing girl. I think by showing more how decisions were being made and showing better how the plots turning points impact the characters would wake up the feeling that something higher is at stake and that would make more of an impact on the audience. If something stays too safe, there is a tendency that a story becomes melodramatic instead of dramatic. Point: A very well-made film, but more could be worked out of the story.

Review by Gunnur Martinsdóttir Schlüter

8/10