Midlands Review of Sand
midlandsmovies • March 24, 2020
Midlands Review of Sand
Sand
Directed by Maddie Barnes
2020
Filmed in Skegness, Sand is a new drama from local filmmaker Maddie Barnes that focuses on two boys who struggle with who they are and the complications that subsequently arise.
We open on waves rolling towards land before cutting to our two friends, Jamie (Joel Fossard-Jones) and Curtis (Johnny Gutteridge) basking in the sun on a sandy beach.
Director and writer Maddie Barnes has filmed her short in stark black and white giving the film a classical touch yet many scenes are captured in a handheld style ensuring a contemporary feel for the issues it covers.
The young men enjoy themselves frolicking in the sea before coming together in a loving embrace and the film's cinematography looks great as a whole. It sounds good too with a quaint guitar score adding to the air of summer romance. The narrative is slight but the dreamy images have evocative connotations of summer love and a “day in the life” feel.
The two enjoy their time at a local seaside arcade and share professions of love but their situation gets much more complicated with the arrival of Lindsey (Alexandra Stapleton). The two males then discuss the difficulties of first-time love, how they feel and how others may see them.
The dialogue is a little on those nose (“why can’t I just be normal”) but overall its good intentions and subtle performances pull it over the line.
In conclusion then, unlike the ongoing sands of time, the short focuses on a particular moment in time that we can all relate to – the complexities of young love. Tackling issue of young people dealing with sexuality, love and how they are viewed it takes an honourable look at modern adolescence.
Sand therefore ends up being fun and emotional and although a little cliched at times, is as honest as the characters’ emotions it ultimately portrays.
Michael Sales
As part of our new Midlands on the Move features, we've spoken to local filmmaker Emmeline Hartley about upcoming film Closedown. Read our continuing conversation as Midlands Movies finds out about Leicester actress Parminder Nagra's involvement & more.
Midlands Movies chats to actor, writer and producer Emmeline Hartley, who has been involved in 48-hour film challenges to viral shorts and award-winning films, about her latest film Closedown.
Screenwriter and filmmaker Aaron Sorkin sure knows how to write a courtroom scene. From the iconic “You can’t handle the truth” in A Few Good Men to his 2020 film The Trial of the Chicago 7, the celebrated writer mixes both memorable dialogue with fascinating legal fighting to perfection.
As Bruce Springsteen rises to fame, he starts making a record that no one expected. A passion project that helps him come to terms with his childhood trauma and the overwhelming nature of it all.