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WATCH THE FILM HERE with all proceeds going to the filmmakers!
First, the Recap:
“You mean the world to me!” A strongly worded and deeply effective sentiment when employed within the context of a couple’s undying and fully devoted love for one another, it’s an exclamation of magnitude that far surpasses a simple, basic “Yeah, I kinda like you a lot”. Yet, there exists a bond that for many might well surpass even that depth of sincere love–that of a mother for her child. For one young mother (Kendall Wright), there is more than just a “world away” that separates her from the beloved son (Oliver Orlovski) and the harsh situation he is in. Fighting with everything she has to make it back home, will she be able to arrive in time to reunite and ultimately not only rescue him, but herself?
Next, my Mind:
Science fiction gets a new, albeit quite abbreviated, boost of indie uniqueness, dramatic impact, and a soul-stirring core thanks to this 6-minute short from writer/director Yani Gellman and producer Jacqui Kotyk, which enjoyed its day in the sun via a screening as part of the 2020 Berlin Revolution Film Festival. A pleasantly straightforward dive into the overall typical space-based narrative, the effort then completely sets itself apart from the genre by taking its foundational alien abduction roots and switching it into the gripping backdrop for a much more creative and meaningful narrative about the lengths a mother will indeed go for her child.
Even as the tale finds its primary protagonist in what seems like a hopelessly lost dilemma at the hands of her overly curious and not-so-amicable captors, the film does a wonderfully artistic job at portraying her hardships while likewise contrasting them with the equally painful reality her son faces far away back on Earth. It then becomes a battle of sheer will and outright determination for her to discover the inner and outer fortitude to hatch an escape plan that would lead her home to be with him and become an even greater hero as the liberator from the circumstances that he’s weathering.
But, what really stands out as the heart of this effort is the manner by which we as the viewer learn about this entire scenario, its intricacies, nuances, and background which is through a beautifully executed voiceover monologue as given by Wright’s character throughout. It is literally and figuratively poetic in its delivery, and carries such a true, genuine, and heart-warming sense of unconditional love that you cannot help but be drawn into it with every fiber of your being. It’s that accessibility, those ways you can relate to it that make it so potent and worthwhile to watch as events unfold and hoping that all does end up as well as you’re wishing it would.
Whatever it is you formulate in your head as to how the narrative wraps its touching story up, this critic will simply state it was highly satisfying and assuredly moving, which definitely is NOT what you can always say about some sci-fi fare. It speaks to just how unyielding and limitless, whether in physical distance, mind, heart, and/or soul, that profound bonds go while also addressing the dynamic of family and the things that sadly can break them apart, even if what does so here is more fiction than fact. As I so often regard about indie film, it’s one of those efforts that has a much bigger message to it than just being entertainment. It’s meant to make us think, and it does so with plausible power.
Wright does a splendid job as the mother, a woman not just taken away from her child, but taken a lot farther away than one would ever fathom. Enduring the poking and prodding of her ill-meaning captors, she keeps herself grounded through the thoughts she wishes to share with her son should she ever manage to get back to Earth. Even as her plan starts to manifest, there is a potent realization of exactly how nothing will stand in her way, and Wright’s performance showcases that with believable emotional energy while her slow and stead voiceover just rings with such sincerity and persuasive longing. It’s a perfect, emotive performance that, as mentioned above, stirs you wholeheartedly.
Orlovski does a solid job in his appearance as the son, whom we see is not only a great kid, but is stuck in his own “prison” via what looks to be a harsh home life without his mother present. As we see the story pan out, the situation he’s in somewhat mirrors the plight of this mother, and what we see is the innocent hope of a child in the midst of a storm that he will see her again and be loved. Additional appearances are made by Sequoia Taka Wright Bascon, Julia Hune-Brown, Jacqui Kotyk, and Marilyn McNeill.
In total, “Greetings, From The Planet Krog!” is a tale of universal love trumping all trials that any of us might encounter, an abiding trust and desperately needed truth this world should take more time to embrace and hold onto. For it is such love that will see us through as humanity and beyond if we’re just willing to open up and let it sweep us away, connecting us in the manner we were always created to enjoy and dwell in.
As always, this is all for your consideration and comment. Until next time, thank you for reading!
