WATCH THE TRAILER HERE
First, the Recap:
The struggle for acceptance and the equally present yearning to be loved. In our innate humanness, we can all relate to the desire to have relevance and genuine adoration in our lives that we might enjoy both the tangible and inward solace it brings to existence. Add in the quest for a faith we can uphold that makes it all more meaningful and it becomes a far more challenging yet ideally fulfilling pursuit. However, when an unsettled mindset worms its way into our being, whether by our own actions or mental deficiencies manifesting, can we still find balance–or watch our yearnings turn to detrimental deeds? It is this conflict that an unpretentious but evidently troubled man named David (Tim Plester) encounters on a daily basis, with the building dangers of both divided belief and desperate fixation threatening to undermine any chance of a normal life, much less successfully maintaining all he would profess to adhere to.
Next, my Mind:
Spirituality and secularism come crashing together (and DOWN) in the midst of one man’s fractured perspectives, mental health affliction, and wholeheartedly disquieting obsession, astutely portrayed for maximum, affecting, and awareness-raising impact via this thirteen and a half minute short film emerging from one of the most successfully prolific, award-winning British indie production houses, Slick Films (reviews here & here) paired with writer/director/producer/editor Gregg Chilingirian (who’s no stranger to exploring the realms of dysfunctional behavior ie: see my review of “George“), producer Sophie Jones, executive producers Alex Gonzalez, Rebecca Harris-Turner, Delphino Huang, Chris Overton, and Mustapha Wehbi, plus associate producer George Malcher. Both disconcerting in its grander storyline yet also achingly heartbreaking in how it points out the necessity of ongoing, more tangibly achieved mental wellness, acknowledgement of this, and better treatment for those battling the psychologically damaging effects of it, this is not only another relevant film, but one, irreproachably, highly significant in its aim to reach us as human beings.
Offering this through a narrative which sees a seemingly harmless (albeit quirky and conspicuously awkward) man whose inner demons take on a particular form by design though also through his consistently besieged mindset that reveals itself piece by piece as the events unfold, with the initially slow burn intensity, very adeptly building sense of tension and divulgence, then beautifully candid truths that fuel this effort ebb and flow as a palpable force throughout, done with resolute determination and intent so as to hit you hard when needed but likewise imbue an atmosphere of sympathy for an individual trapped in a cycle of self-destruction even he doesn’t fully comprehend thanks to the magnitude of mental un-wellness he possesses. It is the sheer mix of calm purpose exploding into all-out emotional turmoil then BACK to an unexpected, subtle unveiling that allows this smartly written film to engage your own amounts of empathy and disdain for what we witness. The finale of the project cements this dichotomy into your conscious with superlative authority, as it SHOULD, and remains within you with equal, calculated influence.
Beyond the baseline thematic examinations here, these get fleshed out through additional means that see concepts ranging from repressed anger/frustrations, the erratic nature of encountering a skewed mentality, and OCD to the devastating and eerie actualities of a warped addiction, the potency of deeply broken and self-deprecating attitudes, cutting, stalking, and how one’s supposedly ingrained faith is too easily misplaced or misused as justification in an attempt to hide it all and/or keep perpetrating the unhealthy actions being pursued, it’s how EACH of these elements gets employed here that make the narrative so tragic in its course but again needed in its ultimate mission to BE the jarring example of things that require FAR more attention in this stormy world where being willing to HELP our fellow man or woman has been currently lost in a haze of judgement, hate, and wholly fragmented, self-serving behaviors. This critic honestly hopes this film has a convicting degree of persuasive reverberations on viewers so it is realized this might be a fictional film, but it’s an all-too-real state of being for FAR too many people IRL. Time to CARE, folks.
For this critic, Plester simply exudes such unavoidably apropos levels of vulnerability, creepiness, and arresting authenticity through what I felt was a tour-de-force performance as lead character David, an admittedly plain, inconspicuous man who actually is anything BUT. Grasping onto what we are quickly privy to is his constantly deteriorating state of being that houses within it a dark obsession and compulsive activities that are landing him a LONG ways away from the foundational faith we believe he tries to both hold fast to while using it as rationalization FOR his deeds, the spiral he’s in is swallowing every fiber of what’s left of his sanity. Even though his cornerstone desire to BE seen and/or loved could be construed to an extent as innocent, the price he is beginning to pay for it all could be his end, or otherwise feed his twisted sense of belief that has strayed drastically, especially upon learning WHO he “normally” is. I have often stated in other reviews dealing with mental health issues that actors having to PLAY this type of role is admirable to me, as to “GO” there and do it with total believability can be NO easy feat. Plester absolutely embodies David’s struggles with deft skill and undeniably viability.
The primary supporting role here is brought about by Freya Jones as Lucy, whose role in the events depicted more than adequately befits the circumstances, ensuring we have NO doubts whatsoever about the plight she is now confronting. Even though still somewhat brief in her appearances on screen, Jones legitimately provides a noteworthy performance that solidifies the story’s intent stirringly. Additional supporting turns arrive from Emma Gojkovic, Holly Cattle, and Sara Wilson-Soppitt via voices only (but still VERY importantly so!), plus Emma Chilingirian, Dulcie Clark, Lauren Planner, Ben Hillyer, Allan G. Lochhead, Bonte K. Nkooi, Jeff Turner, Connor Pavitt, and Dominic McGrath. So, in total, “Virtue” is a raw, realistic, shrewdly orchestrated portrait of mental health issues and just how overtly frayed the human mind can become when not addressed, unabashedly an evocative warning yet an incontrovertible cry for awareness that echoes across the heart and soul AND that NEEDS to be HEEDED.
STAR RATING (out of 5):
As always, this is all for your consideration and comment. Until next time, thank you for reading!
