GSFF: Once Upon a Time in Easterhouse, The Last Train and The Bite

24 Sept

A round up of a short films from Glasgow Short Film Festival that our staff writer, Beth, just had to write about.

Once Upon a Time in Easterhouse is a small and sweet coming of age short film following Tam, a teenager who finds himself having to confront his own secret after meeting Josh, a fellow football player and new kid on the block. The soft tones and 4:3 aspect ratio give the Glasgow setting a dream-like feel and make it a treat to watch; with this style also perfectly reflecting the storyline and bitter sweetness of our main characters dilemma. It is an innocent tale, but dips its toes into more serious issues that Tam faces regarding his family life. Overall, it’s a lovely little film that shows lots of potential, from its typically Scottish screenplay to the beautiful cinematography.

The Last Train is a two-minute short that takes the viewers on a psychedelic yet relatable journey on the last train of the night. We step into the shoes of our protagonist and watch the madness unfold through clashes of colour and contortions of people as though we have stepped foot into another dimension. Everywhere our main character looks there is something strange occurring in each crevice of the train. This short film really transports you into its weird little world for a few moments and I look forward to seeing what its creators get up to next.

The Bite was a highlight of the Glasgow Short Film Festival for me. Set in Sao Paolo, the film explores how the city is dealing with a pandemic, making it very interesting considering what we are dealing with at the moment. However, the issue Sao Paolo faces is killer mosquitos. We do not know the extent of the danger but there is always a lingering tension created through the actor’s nervous expressions and hints of dialogue suggesting that this is real a threat to the population. To add to the terror, the brilliant soundtrack consisting of mosquito-like buzzes and drawn out synth notes creates a sense of utter dread for viewers, I found myself covering my eyes in anticipation of what was to come. The film presents itself like a documentary, with interviews from the scientists trying to fight the issue, and the realistic acting from the polyamorous couple that the film focuses on. It’s a strange short film, in its own beautiful way, and I left wanting to see more.