-Written by Kyle Bain.
2024 HOLLYSHORTS FILM FESTIVAL REVIEW!
What are you to do when your family makes a mistake, one that is life altering? Are you meant to tell the truth, changing their lives forever, or is it your job to protect them? That’s the situation in which Joanna (Victoria Moroles) has found herself. She’s stuck in The Middle, and she has to make a decision that will affect everything going forward.
Using dark lighting to tell this story, Writer-Director Sylvia Ray ensures that the drama and flood of emotions felt by the film’s protagonist is shared by the viewer. Without a shadow of a doubt, that comes to be. As the film opens and two girls argue, viewers aren’t sure of what has happened, and really, it’s not relevant at this moment. It’s made clear that Joanna is in distress and that those around her are feeling the pressure as well. In a film that’s only twelve minutes long, it’s important that viewers are quickly able to feel a connection to the characters on screen, even if we aren’t sure why yet. The Middle jumps right into the, well…middle of the story. The fateful night that has everyone on edge has already transpired–and we are thrown into the fire immediately.
Again, the darkness that envelops nearly the entirety of the film plays a pivotal role in viewers understanding and appreciating how Joanna feels throughout. There’s a sense of heaviness present in every second of the film as a result of the lighting, and The Middle thrives as a result of this technical expertise. The point in a film this short, as previously mentioned, is to immerse viewers in it as quickly and effectively as possible. There’s no time to waste, and Ray ensures that nothing will stand in the way of her film’s success in this regard.
Additionally, in a film that sees its protagonist torn between two possible outcomes, having to make an impossible decision, viewers have to be able to appreciate both sides of the coin. How can we appreciate Joanna if we don’t connect with her ideals and her situation? The short answer is that we can’t. Ray quickly develops a handful of young, passionate characters that guide the film, with Moroles’ Joanna at the forefront of The Middle. Some characters only appear on screen for thirty seconds, but their presence is felt for two reasons. First is the script, as it expresses explicitly what each of these characters is meant to do during their time on screen. Second is the talent of these young actors. They fill the shoes of their characters with great aplomb–and viewers are able to see why protecting family is so important to Joanna. We easily see both sides of the story throughout the course of The Middle, ensuring that nothing feels out of place, far fetched, or inorganic.
The Middle is a touching, hard-hitting film that is brilliantly dark while shining light on the bond among family members. Through lighting, a succinct and concise script, brilliantly talented actors, and a compelling story, The Middle hits all the right notes, effective in reeling in viewers and keeping them enthralled through its twelve-minute runtime.
Written & Directed by Sylvia Ray.
Starring Joanna Moroles, Julio Macias, Isabella Feliciana, Edgar de Santiago, Chris Ortega, etc.
8.5/10 = WORTH RENTING OR BUYING
Comments