CPIFF 2026 Short Film Review “Awake” Past and present, impermanence and immortality, suppression and realization all come together with evocative force
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First, the Recap:
Confusion. Seeking. Unveiling. Three words that, when tied together in one’s life experience, can become the catalyst for a myriad of reactions and actions that could very well define us. Can it not be stated that we tend to take the world, and hence the reality, around us for granted? Time simply passes by, we go about our routine, and dwell in the relative comfort of believing we understand all around us. What would happen if all of this was shaken to the core?
A young woman rises from her sleep, somewhat weary, and soon quickly taken aback by where she finds herself…..in a place she doesn’t recognize. Even as the weariness of her still-foggy mind begins to fade, it is only sudden fragments of memory that explode within her head, even as the actual reality around her frays. More and more panicked, she has no concept of what ultimate truth she is about to discover….and how it will change her forever.
Next, my Mind:
As much a throwback to bygone decades in its beautifully hand-drawn animated format as it is a wholly relevant study in contemporary reality paired with timeless, equally compelling messages centered on conscious thought, coping with loss, seeking answers, sustained memories, and the concept of just being who we are as human beings, this newest short film from writer/director/editor/composer Josh Andres and associate producer Heather Becker is short film in its most literal incarnation while possessing an impactful study encompassing all of those core concepts. Folks, this is only two minutes and twenty-five seconds long. Yet, that’s all the time Andres needed to capture your attention, relish the stylistic visual choice, and hit you with a narrative that honestly forces you to THINK, absorb, ponder, and ideally retain the lessons about US it conveys.
But as always, you have to be willing to truly engage and look beyond just the surface to discover these notions through a narrative that sees a young woman named Rachel realize that where and what she has awoken to on this particular morning will be anything but normal while turning into a primary revelation that will jar her to her core, making her question everything she thought she knew, felt, and experienced. I know, I know. It’s hard to fathom that this kind of depth and stirring character drama could actually manifest in such seriously abbreviated timespan, but it really does and is what makes this effort a further testament to the artistry and, I feel anyway, fearless nature of independent filmmakers, their desire to drive points home in subtle and blatant ways, plus providing us more than just entertainment, but stories of life we can relate to, embrace, and simply appreciate.
The manner in which this narrative takes on our perceptions of time passing, the actuality of mortality, the ongoing chasing of the exact opposite of that…to find the way to live on forever, the idea of intelligence and self-awareness beyond our physical being, a longing to be preserved and still be present beyond the tangible world is tangibly displayed amidst the already aforementioned conceptualizations mentioned earlier and its done with potency and realistic emotional punch that does sink in when the film’s finale comes around and strikes you rather definitively. Visually, the animation that mirrors 80’s and 90’s anime seems so apropos here, somehow lending a more definitive sense of connection and strength to the narrative’s intent and course, while the musical elements from duo Statik Link (consisting of Andres and collaborator Dan Dwyer) add yet another effective layer to the events at hand, atmospheric and perfect for the mood the film elicits.
As another note about the visuals here, this film was created with the assistance of three distinct and known AI-based image generators: Chat GPT, Runway, and Higgsfield. Now, say what you will about the legitimate arguments focused on AI-generated films and the future they have, for good or ill, pro or con. Here anyway, these options were unequivocally TOOLS to utilize. I feel it is what allows the film to embody that classic fashion of animation, but do so in an even crisper, clean-cut execution that pays homage to the past AND the present truths about technology’s place in the film business. It doesn’t take a single thing away from your ability as the viewer to watch and enjoy this effort, especially when it literally demands so LITTLE of your time to do so. I suppose I feel that when it comes to animated film in ANY style, the use of AI tools is more acceptable to me, as there’s no questioning the level of incredible worlds and stories that can be created.
There’s a haunting aspect to this film as well, though I don’t wish to spoil anything, so I am avoiding details in stating this. But, in general, how this narrative speaks to our entire pursuit of advancing technology, specifically AI, and the whole associated postulations about what abilities it might have and HOW that would look if true cognizance were achieved, along with certain consequences and/or ramifications is a substantial underlying idea here, at least for me. And the unnerving essence of it remains intact. However, the real objectives of this film were stated above, so this last thought is again a more nebulous, yet I feel pertinent, observation. So, in total, “Awake” defines the new age of cinematic forays while giving us a nostalgic tone and imagery to immerse us in a world where becoming awake in the standard sense could end up revealing something far more substantial….and firmly disquieting.
STAR RATING (out of 5):
As always, this is all for your consideration and comment. Until next time, thank you for reading!
