TORONTO LIFT-OFF FILM FESTIVAL 2021:
A young woman (Tara Grundmanis) goes for a run by a secluded creek, and as she journeys the serene Shorelines she comes to realize that she’s not alone. Walking the same terrain is a creature (Laila Christine). As the two individuals come in contact for the first time, the young woman quickly understands that the creature is anything but friendly, and that her life is in danger. Can she survive the horrific creature, or will this be the end of the line?
There is a fine line between over exaggerated, corny acting and bad acting. It appears that the intention of writer-director Grundmanis is to be a bit silly, but that’s ultimately not what viewers get. I found the entire scope of Shorelines to struggle. The writing is the first issue with the film as it lacks cohesion and much of what occurs has nothing to do with the primary storyline. Conversations about potential jobs, the pandemic, and a lack of skills exists for seemingly no reason at all. Unless I’m missing something completely--which I’d like to think I’m not--the conversation that the protagonist has with her sister (also portrayed by Christine) has nothing to do with the rest of the film and works simply as an unnecessary filler.
The story itself has potential, but there isn’t any content for viewers to enjoy. It’s possible that Shorelines has the ability to create a connection with viewers as it explores the depths of the human mind, but it fails to find relevance in the real world. There was an opportunity for Grundmanis to better explain her story, dig deep, and intertwine her story with the real world, but there is something so unrealistic and so disproportionate to the real world that viewers are sure to struggle with understanding any metaphor, or even caring enough to piece the puzzle together.
The script and dialogue are only the tip of the iceberg for this truly unappealing short film. Shorelines is riddled with ill-favored acting that borders truly horrific. I understand the fact that aspects of the film are meant to be silly, and Grundmanis hopes to cause a few laughs along the way, but, in all honesty, the acting did nothing but make me cringe throughout. Viewers never receive an ounce of genuine emotion and often feel confused about what each of the characters is feeling. The over exaggerated screams, unrealistic facial expressions, and clearly fabricated nature of nearly everything left me uninterested, and, truthfully, bored.
Just a nine-minute short film managed to feel like a feature-length film, and not because of the riveting content, but rather the fact that I was so incredibly bored. I genuinely appreciate the fact that Grundmanis put herself out there and attempted to entertain viewers, but this won’t be her big break. I want something more relatable: the acting, the story, or something else entirely. One change won’t save Shorelines, but it will give viewers something to latch onto and appreciate throughout the length of the film. I see so much potential in Shorelines that I hate the way in which it played out. One simple change might turn things around and give viewers a reason to care, but realistically the film needs a complete overhaul.
Written & Directed by Tara Grundmanis.
Starring Tara Grundmanis & Laila Christine.
⭐⭐/10
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