Short Film Review “The Belladonna” A jarring portrait of mental collapse and the requisite need to find inner release and resolution in the wake of loss, ambition, and splintered self worth
First, the Recap:
The quest to be on top. While for some it may not be what they aspire to, many can freely admit (or perhaps not so freely) that their primary goal is to be at the peak of their game in life. Finding the degree of success that elevates them above the rest, and maintaining their status from this point forward. Yet, the pursuit of such things can also yield arrogance, an attitude that a said claim is theirs and that’s final. Hence, what happens when suddenly another comes around which could topple us from that pinnacle?
At The Belladonna burlesque club, a dancer named Stella (Stella Talpo) is the reigning queen, or at least she believes strongly so. Having to press on after a heartrending loss which impacts her both personally and professionally, it becomes questionable whether she’s truly up for this position. Between the club’s owner, Tan (Sé Carr) and a growing rivalry with a possible new queen, Cherry (Janique), it soon becomes apparent that being on top can come at a high, high cost.
Next, my Mind:
There continues to be consummate examples of the sheer power, validity, and relevance the independent film community as a whole puts forth and has to offer, especially when it comes to the medium of short film. To take a given subject matter, flesh it out with fully developed character and narrative foundations, and have it all strike with effective, grounded, and purposeful impact contained within an average runtime of fifteen minutes is in itself a monumental achievement as far as this critic is concerned. This has been my personal experience with it, and I yet again must extend this declaration of short film’s magnificence thanks to the newest 15-minute effort from writer/director/producer Javid Rezai, producer Stella Talpo, and executive producer Mustapha Wehbi who deliver a story that oozes with dramatic impetus, compelling resolve, potent and persuasive messaging, plus a grander atmosphere of utterly raw, unflinching emotive punch.
Founded on precise, intentional, and brilliantly executed expressiveness and fervor on a narrative that sees the jarring deconstruction of one woman’s mental state of being while facing the struggles of deep loss, the demons of jealousy, damaged self-identity, and the desperation to recapturing perceived greatness, it is a relentless study in human frailty, crippling scrutiny, depths of mourning, and the inward cry for help that so often gets buried under the weight of resistance, misguided perspectives, and equally rash actions in a storm that is the fractured mind. The unapologetic nature of the film’s course is what flat out hits you with the force of a runaway train, and the stirring of emotions that you experience through the lead character is nothing short of a palpable hurricane of intensity. Truly, this is no exaggeration. To be immersed within this magnitude of volatility is a tangibly felt journey which cannot be ignored.
Taking on thematic tangents that encompass having to encounter the specters of affecting loss, existing under the shadow of a legend and trying to get out from under it while ALSO trying to live UP to it, seeing someone else we feel is trying to purposely upend or remove us from a set we feel rightly belongs to us (whether we are actually ready to or not), possessing a wholly ego-driven/diva mentality, the dashing of dreams, having faced no support from a cherished parent, the pain of rejection and the ensuing, unequivocally broken self worth that arises, failing to cope well and using drastic means as a so-called “solution” to it all, having to accept our hurt, let it be revealed to us, discovering our path, and then realizing our genuine need for HELP, the film tackles these elements with the aforementioned sense of urgency and acute gravity that more than adeptly stays with you, as it SHOULD.
There is utmost importance for films that take on mental health and related issues, and I completely applaud said efforts like this one that are willing to illustrate it so bluntly so that it raises our awareness and/or reminds us that wellness is NEEDED, is NECESSARY, even more emphatically when we see it depicted as it is here, because getting BETTER is PARAMOUNT. I very much hope this film has this kind of influence. The finale, in view of all the vividly sustained build-up that occurs which brings us to it, is cathartic and a needed breath of HOPE that assuredly places an exclamation point on the events with keenly conveyed strength. This kind of ending being given after such overtly haunting, candid, and unsettling road only makes it stick out even more, again, as it SHOULD. I believe that we always must understand that there IS promise and encouragement to ultimately come about with topics like this. Glad to see that demonstrated here.
To state that Talpo is a quintessential force of nature in this film would still be an understatement of the year when it comes to describing her performance via the role of Stella, a burlesque dancer who has the weight of legacy on her shoulders as well as a growing hostility towards another whom she feels is out to get her, all while having to handle the loss of the very person whom she must strive to emulate and, ideally, be the reigning queen of the Belladonna Club. As Stella attempts to NOT allow her grief to cloud her judgement or ability, truths still surface that would contradict all she wishes to achieve, and as things come to a head, will it cost her, and those around her, more than she can ever bear? This kind of unadulterated emotive fervor cannot be easy to embody with such heartrending vulnerability and believability as an actor, and watching Talpo plunge headfirst into it is as absolutely wrenching as it is credible, passionate, and wholly impressive.
Janique Charles plays Cherry, the club’s up and coming, already popular talent whom Stella sees as the one after her perceived “crown” and whom becomes the target of her obsession. Stella’s seemingly haughty yet still supportive attitude comes across at first, but then begins to devolve into other actions that could have more “fueling the fire” objectives than ever before….or do they? It’s a fantastic performance that draws you into this character you love to hate but could then also end up feeling sympathetic towards as well. It is thanks to the demeanor and the convincing nature of Charles’ execution that so smartly elicits this dichotomy in Cherry, and it befits the proceedings exceedingly well. It’s the style of grounded performance on top of all of that which further aids in creating such an ambiance of tension between her and Stella, again a testament to Charles’ acting abilities on display.
Primary supporting roles arrive from Sé Carr as Tan, the Belladonna Club’s manager whom has more than one opinion about Stella’s state of being, her need to take more time to find peace, and whether the club might actually still BE an option for Stella’s life path to follow. It’s a character you completely understand and support their mindset and intentions, with Carr portraying this with precise and feasible verity. Anna Tymoshenko is Anita, Stella’s mother who was a total legend at the club but whose parental support of Stella remains highly in question on multiple levels. She is a catalyst for the life and career aspirations, outlook, and inner battles Stella has dealt with, and Tymoshenko via Anita assuredly presents the kind of motherly example that is more than questionable, another character you may love to disagree with, all thanks to a wonderfully understated yet visceral performance by the actress playing her.
Additional appearances are made by Evelin Kolonko as the younger version of Stella, plus burlesque dancers Donna Poderosa, Miss Coco Belle, Petit Pois, Spookey Bones, Turkish Delight, Raquel Alders, and Yasmin Lee. So, in total, “The Belladonna” is a frank, unfeigned, undeniably forthright exploration of the battleground of the mind, abject desolation and devolving of one’s composure under building stress, the potency of perceptions both real and imagined, and the need for release and healing to find a way back from the edge, delivered with profoundly uncompromising energy that picks you up and shakes your soul.
STAR RATING (out of 5):
As always, this is all for your consideration and comment. Until next time, thank you for reading!
