WATCH THE TRAILER HERE
First, the Recap:
The make-up of grief. A state of being we never desire to be experiencing, yet one that somehow seems inevitable over the course of life, it always comes down to precisely HOW we choose to allow it to dictate our manner and actions once it occurs. When the source of it is ever more excruciating within than we ever thought we’d encounter, to find any sense of normalcy and inner absolution appears impossible to attain. But then again, is this not so often when the reminders of what we still HAVE arise to offer just that exact release we require? For a local mechanic’s shop owner named Jose (Clifton Collins Jr.), the day we are witness to is just one of an apparent ongoing struggle for him to process the strongly lingering pain he’s in. Facing this constantly harried mindset, what will it take to allow him to once more realize his own life’s worth, the importance of what, and who, he has to share it with and, more importantly, find needed comfort in?
Next, my Mind:
Potently heartbreaking yet positively affecting, persuasively realistic, and illustrating the unequivocal necessity for genuine bonds of family and humanity to rise up with a desperately requisite fervency to aid in coping with and overcoming the tragic impact of loss, this Oscar qualified 14-minute short film from writer/director/producer Duane Hansen Fernandez, producer Rebecca Parks, plus executive producers Kristy Sowin and Devin Stinson carries itself with a quiet yet undeniably resounding urgency and intent that addresses the concept of sorrow’s weight, solace’s seeming elusiveness, and the little things that remind us what’s SO key in these circumstances–YOU ARE NOT ALONE. This critic has stated countless times now over the years that filmmakers choosing to tackle this subject in any of its forms are total winners in my eyes, as when we look around this chaotic reality, both from a personal and all-encompassing perspective, we SO NEED to be MORE about showing sincere empathy, concern, care, and means to adapt when it comes to our own losses and/or those of others around us. We NEED to REGAIN our humanity, folks.
With its narrative that centers on one man’s deep-seated, overwhelming, truly crippling degrees of mental anguish over an only hinted-at but still very much evident and unanticipated loss, the film’s pacing is simply divine, allowing us as the viewer to be fully, but with slowly building intensity, immersed in his actuality and how what’s happening within is crushing him to the point of what amounts to consistent instances of non-function, to utterly debilitating magnitudes, that distract him from concentrating successfully on anything else BUT the emotional affliction. Additionally, it is also how adeptly the film takes this on with dynamic energy yet manages to do so with a conspicuously muted approach, which only causes us to really dig into what is boiling BELOW the surface, whether by conjecture or totally revealed elements. Combine this with intelligently crafted imagery that so beautifully adds to the atmosphere the narrative is eliciting, and it just emphasizes the ebb and flow of mourning.
However, what I then greatly admire is how magnificently the film brings about it’s narrative’s ultimate resolution, with a finale that is so compellingly cathartic and inspiring, the underlying message of HOPE that is paramount, shining forth with purpose and prominence. A quick mid-credits scene is also presented, and it’s just perfect. Thematically, the tangents on attempting to endure what feels like an endless place of suffering, the tediousness of time’s passage when in the grip of bereavement, the symbolism of things that we tend to equate with an unsettled frame of mind (ie: a dripping faucet, the ticking of a clock, the constant interruption of a phone, etc), how we try to press into work as a mechanism to cope, the sheer level of loneliness when there’s a hole left from loss, the beauty of SMALL things that end up turning into our liberation, the richness of family and how we need to press into that connection even more during times like these, and just the realization of the fact we CAN still find reasons to SMILE again all get their screen time here, again with certain subtleness, but no less profound eloquence.
Collins, Jr. has very much been favorite character actor of mine since as far back as “Traffic” and “The Last Castle” to more recent efforts like “Star Trek” and “The Bricklayer” among so many others, with TV appearances on that list as well. Therefore, just like my recent thoughts on another Oscar qualifier, “Dovecote” with Zoe Saldana, I absolutely applaud major Hollywood players for showcasing a willingness to do short films and hence expand not only their repertoire, but also demonstrate their deeper range of already proven talent. Here, Collins, Jr. gets to exercise an understated, wholly engaging aura of ardent emotional volatility through his turn as Jose, a mechanic shop owner dealing with an initially undisclosed loss that has him buried in a fractured, worn out state of soul, mind, and spirit. Trying everything from meditation to plunging into work that needs completed, nothing assuages the constant barrage of reminders that keep him prisoner to the hurt he knows–at least until one moment manifests that could be a path to know he’s going to be ok.
As mentioned above, it is the wonder of Collins, Jr.’s subdued performance that actually fuels the depth of evocative strength and the messages this film delivers, a total credit to the veteran actor’s skills and an overall testament to the ART of acting when done with such wonderfully executed, yet uncomplicated, precision. The primary supporting roles arrive here, both via voice and/or still image only, from Erika Christensen, Niklaus Lange, Larissa Dias, David George, and Toon$ & Boops Machado. So, in total, “A Place To Fall Down” very much exists within its title’s name, an exposé on human nature, the anatomy of grieving, the consummate need for authentic connection, and the keenness of the knowledge help, letting go, and moving forward CAN happen with time, love, and support. This world could use a LOT more of this, and let’s hope films such as this spur us on towards that end.
STAR RATING (out of 5):
As always, this is all for your consideration and comment. Until next time, thank you for reading!
