Short Film Review “Sand Parade” A youth-oriented exposé on what it is to rediscover home, reclaim love, and examine ambiguous futures
WATCH THE TRAILER BELOW:
First, the Recap:
What does it take for us to feel truly at home? We have our place of origin, of course. But what if life went in a direction that took us away from that, voluntarily, to be someone who even perhaps “made it out” of the hard realities of said place? Yet, as years have gone forward, do we not potentially find ourselves longing to be with those we left behind? What does the future hold? Who will we seek to share it with? And what choices do we now face that demand action?
In the area of Dover, England, a young man named Kevin (Nick Bidar) is on a journey of discovery he takes to the region, from what we learn, consistently each year. He is a man searching to reunite with those back in his original homeland village in Argentina, to perhaps even help them come back to England with him. With this and all of life’s other unresolved pieces, he reconnects with Joanna (Mary Harding), a longstanding, close friend with whom he may have, or desire, more with. The pair ponder all they are encountering on the beautiful Cliffs of Dover….plans TBD.
Next, my Mind:
Where we are from, who we are, what we’ve left behind, that which is present, and that which lies ahead–above and beyond the uncertainties of an already enigmatic future–are all tangents that manifest and come into focus through this deftly executed, fully relatable, and unexpectedly (though subtly) tense 12-minute short film from writer/director/producer (Nick Bidar), producer Stephanie Laurent, plus executive producers Dan O’Dwyer and Chris Overton. Showcased through Slick Showreels, a subsidiary of the highly prolific, award-winning British-based production house Slick Films, this is the style of evocative, accessible, and superb quality filmmaking that adeptly conveys stories just exuding meaningful lessons on the human condition, doing so with affecting energy and persuasive messaging that more than deserves to be noticed, SEEN, praised, and contemplated. This is indie film done with absolute excellence. Period.
The beauty of this offering, as is almost exclusively the case when it comes to independent cinema specifically, is the grounded narrative and character-centric foundation that sees a young Argentinian man who’s lived in England for a while now yearning beyond all else to have the chance to return to his homeland with a dream to not only reunite, but to better lives while now leaving behind a best friend who wants more with him. There’s a deep sense of this man’s longings being portrayed, even as the entire concept of diaspora is being explored from such an intimate, single individual’s perspective. The atmosphere we can construe from his varied reactions while we are hearing and seeing his story is one of frustration, isolation, questioning, excitement, an adventurous spirit, being a stranger in a strange land, the only one of his people there, and recognizing where HOME truly is. These ideas alone are potent, weighty, and compelling in themselves.
But, additionally, we are privy to not only his viewpoints on where he must go, but also that of a seemingly estranged friend whom he contacts to have these conversations and deliberations with, encompassed by the natural wonder around them, a place of solace and speaking they both need while trying to grasp the notion of choice, one who knows what it is to possess them, the other never actually having experienced it enough to react in the same manner to it as their discourse proceeds. Again, this personal dichotomy is so eccentrically yet beautifully portrayed between them, so much said, yet so much left wholly unresolved or even assured. Yet, promises are made, and as Kevin then moves forward with one particular goal he wishes to build upon from previous visits, it leads to a finale that is one surprising and potentially jarring reality to embrace given all the hope and anticipation of what’s to come we’ve heard or simply buy into via conjecture.
The RELEASE that it all seems to boil down to is what punches you square in the gut, and why the writing and direction here is undeniably divine to deliver both an inspiring and sobering final product. Bidar steps out from behind the camera to be in front of it to fulfill his role as Kevin, a young immigrant man making his yearly visit to Dover while greatly eager to return to his real homeland with aspirations to see his village’s people made well. In the midst of all of these upcoming plans, Kevin calls and reconnects with a friend he hasn’t seen in a spell, and with whom we can tell there has been more simmering between them. But, with his mind made up to leave, and no guarantee of his return, the pair relish the time together to share all the things on their minds while preparing for a separation that is necessary yet difficult. However, will Kevin totally gain the opportunities he’s wishing for?
It’s a definitively nuanced performance that Bidar gives here, so effectively drawing us into Kevin’s plight while endearing him to us and to all he wants to see come about. In a very similar manner, Harding resonates with a playfulness, charm, vulnerability, and uncomplicated joy that fully befits the character she plays, Joanna, a loyal, enduring, and somewhat alienated friend of Kevin whom harbors very conspicuous feelings for him. Just as much questioning what her future holds, even with some ideas they talk about, her initial reaction to his leaving is what defines her in the moment, causing her to be even more forthright about how she feels and what she is willing to do in his absence. Depending on how you might interpret their interactions, Joanna almost becomes a somewhat tragic character in that for all she’s longing to have with him and the distance of time already having been what it apparently was, to “lose” him again is heartbreaking.
But, her support for him is indisputable, and Harding’s quietly emotive performance wins you to her character with ease. The primary supporting appearances are made here by Linda-Jean Barry and Hector Bhattarcharjee, who make up the film’s initial flashback-oriented opening that gives us a glimpse into Kevin’s childhood and the set-up for his eventual move to England. So, in total, “Sand Parade” is a dynamic, dramatic, emotionally stirring, purposeful study in origins, peregrinations, homesickness, love, ambitions, hopes, and decisions for better or ill as seen through the eyes of youthful apprehensions and the unpredictability of what will come. Can hesitations be vanquished with the help and bonds of others plus our own innate passions to hold onto? Or will it instead utterly swallow us up forever, drowning us in a sea of time and lost opportunity?
STAR RATING (out of 5):
As always, this is all for your consideration and comment. Until next time, thank you for reading!
