Oscar Qualifying Short Film Review “Olive” Time’s unrelenting passage, comprehending what’s past and present, and the burdens of caretaking get an award-worthy exposé
WATCH THE TRAILER BELOW:
First, the Recap:
A discernment of reality. We might take it for granted each and every day we head out into the world that we at minimum have a well-established concept of our surroundings wherever our path might lead. In similar fashion, we ideally remain aware of ourselves as well…who we are, where we are, what we aim to accomplish..being firmly rooted in it to the extent we then become satisfied that it all is in order and clear. However, what if the current pattern forward is NOT what it appears to be?
Sam (Tom Koch) is a young man who finds himself, voluntarily we believe, taking care of his aging grandmother (Lesley Ann Warren), whose grasp on her faculties seems to be conspicuously fluctuating, the primary reason(s) unknown. With a repeating daily routine they both endure keeping them on their toes, it soon becomes evident that Tom’s building frustrations with the relationship they have is fracturing even more, causing him to begin questioning their entire association.
Next, my Mind:
With the Awards season in full swing, it has always been a complete pleasure and privilege to have opportunity to watch and review Oscar qualifying short films from around the world, quite frankly basking in the sheer, consistent, baseline quality they possess that illustrates precisely WHY they have earned the chance at being officially nominated for that coveted statuette and the acclaim which accompanies it. This said, what also makes this group of films so overtly captivating is the equally prevalent and continuously present mix of UNIQUE and FRESH narrative and character-driven forays that deftly maintain one immutable fact for this critic: independent cinema IS WHERE IT’S AT. Hence when we now speak of this 13-minute short film from writer/director/producer Tom Koch, producers Astrid Lark and Anthony James Faure, plus executive producers Andrew Carlberg, Kate Pelini, Robert S Gregory, Maura Moreau, Jen Blair Manley, Jay Tilson, The Tuffrey-Berry Family, Katherine Green, and Linda Clare, well, as the well-known phrase states…the proof IS indeed in the pudding.
Delivered through a purposefully and intelligently understated atmosphere, the narrative follows a young man whose charge in life at the moment is to play caretaker to his grandmother, a woman who, sadly, does not quite appear to be “all there”, and the growing agitation he begins to realize as their relationship starts to scatter and then be more deeply scrutinized. Now, on the surface overall, one might think this COULD come across as a little mundane or even uninteresting at first. However, besides revisiting my statement above lauding indie cinema, this could not be farther from the truth, as the direction in which this narrative ends up finding its intended groove and central theme is ANYTHING but “conventional” or “typical”. Instead, the path we witness here conveys a jarring actuality that simply blows your mind with its, I felt, wholehearted originality and brilliance of execution which consequently gives the narrative its emotive, believable, convincing, and stirring punch.
The tapestry of LIFE the story represents is one that I firmly feel is necessary and so relevant to explore, for the foundational facet of our existence AS human beings that’s being illustrated here is quite honestly an unavoidable truth….growing old and the uncertainty then reality of how things can unfold, especially aspects out of our control yet so potentially debilitating to our concept of who we have been, are, and how we desperately attempt to LIVE it consciously for as long as possible. Having this taken away from us is a more than an extremely difficult pill to swallow, as it then becomes about those taking care of us and the admitted burden it COULD (and sometimes does) become. At the same time, the film adeptly finds a means to also address our lingering memory of youth, the vibrancy, freedom, and hopeful nature of it, with the future wide open and filled with every prospect open and ready to be taken in. The narrative here handles the notion of love across both of these boundaries in an amazingly compelling manner that will melt and shock you.
Needless to say, in view of all previously stated factors, the finale we are provided here is unequivocally affecting and haunting in its implications and definitive revelations. Period. Yet another component involved with this film that not only warrants a lot of attention but also unadulterated praise for perfect casting choices comes about through the stellar veteran acting talents of Warren, who brings to bear a grounded, relatable, quietly then fervently energetic, heartwarming then beautifully heart-wrenching aura to her performance as Grandma. Facing the realness of her current state in life, being cared for by her grandson, while also facing the reminders of having lost a step in her mental awareness and what it takes to remain under constant observation and being “led around” even when she might not wish to be, she also harbors undisclosed secrets and actions she’s been taking that will only take a matter of time for Sam to uncover. How this might impact their relationship becomes the gist from there, and watching Warren tackle the volatility of her character’s condition and circumstances is a pure pleasure to relish, absorb, and appreciate.
In a different but similar style, Koch steps out from behind the camera to act in front of it through his role as Sam, a grandson dutifully but with an underlying, simmering impatience taking care of his grandmother whom proves often that she is in need of care. Even as he makes every effort to keep their daily interactions and activities the same so as to ideally maintain any sense of normalcy for her, Sam’s also caught up in his own world and search for greater release and meaning in a way that, initially unbeknownst to him, is being observed as well. How this all pans out is what ends up making Sam’s story just as imperative and significant as his grandmother’s, and Koch does do a very solid, credible job at navigating Sam through his paces while very astutely leading us as the viewer in one direction when there’s a chance things are going to ultimately go in an entirely altered on. This is more so credit to Koch’s writing and direction of the story, and so having pulled quadruple duty here is impressive to me and certainly engenders well-earned and deserved acknowledgment and respect.
Supporting turns are present from Marie-Louise Boisnier, Jeffrey Farber, and Tomás Doncker, each of whom I will simply be able to disclose do a superb job in performing their roles in a way that so wonderfully befits the narrative’s course. So, in total, “Olive” is a standout short film well worth viewing, most assuredly award-worthy, and a shining example of portraying the challenges on multiple fronts that life can throw at us, being able to assess how we try to make it through them, how we wish to see and recollect about ourselves even when the reality may not be what it seems, and the need to comprehend and accept our situation while grasping onto what has always kept us going….unconditional, stalwart, patient love, commitment, and steadfastness.
STAR RATING (out of 5):
As always, this is all for your consideration and comment. Until next time, thank you for reading!
