-Written by Kyle Bain.
Darcine’s Day opens to the titular Darcine (Kyla Diane Kennedy) expressing her concerns and hopes for a new program for those in need–a program that would provide cheap, healthy food for those that can’t afford it otherwise. I’m not entirely sure why my mind went here–but my first thoughts were “oh no, a political film.” Again, I’m not entirely sure why I felt this way–but the film ultimately didn’t go in that direction.
So, why was it even necessary to mention this in my review? Well, I feel that this may have been a tactic by Writer-Director Aaron A. Goffman in order to throw viewers off the scent of what will ultimately take place throughout the course of his short film. Interestingly enough, Goffman actually reveals a lot in this opening sequence–without really giving anything away. He’s clever in the way that he paces his film and reveals information to viewers. It’s an interesting tactic to sort of give away the film’s ending without revealing much–and it works wonders for the film as a whole.
This short film is only sixteen-minutes long, and while that doesn’t seem like much, so much happens in that short amount of time. There have been many occasions that films even half this length feel long and cumbersome, where there are obvious pieces of those films that could have been cut out, simply omitted from the final product. Darcine’s Day is so different in that regard–moving along powerfully and purposefully. By the conclusion of the film I didn’t know where the time had gone, as it certainly didn’t feel like sixteen minutes. With that, I never found a moment in the film unnecessary. That’s truly rare. Even in the best films there are moments that serve little purpose, that should have ultimately landed on the cutting room floor–but not in Darcine’s Day. Every moment matters, leading viewers to one, pivotal moment–the most important of the film.
Goffman has to rely on simplicity in order to pull this thing off–he has to ensure that nothing is over exaggerated, nothing feels inorganic, nothing works to hinder the simplicity or the hard-hitting nature of the story. Like just about every other aspect of Darcine’s Day, Goffman pulls it off brilliantly. Standard set design, down-to-earth and [mostly] relatable characters, and a naturally paced film, Darcine’s Day hits all the right notes. The most emotional moments are allowed to shine the brightest, allowed to be the most prominently featured aspects of the short film. As a result of this, Darcine’s Day works the way it was meant to, the way it needs to in order to succeed. I was brought near to tears, something I couldn’t have expected turning this film on–but that’s how powerful and relevant it is.
Much of the film rests on the shoulders of Goffman, a talented writer and director, a person who truly understands how to develop a film. However, the veritable face of Darcine’s Day is Kennedy. She carries herself beautifully from the start, fitting in exactly where she’s needed, elevating the film in ways that were likely very challenging. She, like the other aspects of the film, is powerful–commanding the screen without overshadowing other components. Darcine’s Day works wonderfully, again, hitting just the right notes, tugging at your heartstrings.
Written & Directed by Aaron A. Goffman.
Starring Kyla Diane Kennedy, Elizabeth Lamboy-Wilson, Karla Paola Cortez, Joe Hackett, Vicki Browder-Johnson, etc.
8.5/10 = WORTH RENTING OR BUYING
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