Short Film Review – "The Black Hole" Directed by Olly Williams and Phil Sansom (2008)
Bibliography:
"The Black Hole" Short Film Reference
“The Black Hole” is a perfect example
of where human, or man, wants everything to the point where their greed can cause
karma. The set up of this short film, introduces a sleep-deprived office worker,
the protagonist, to the spectators in which appears to be in an unhappy
environment. The office setting is minimal as there is just one character
with an external conflict. As he makes copies of his work, the machine gets
stuck which only infuriates him more, causing him to kick it. This is where the
spectators are now introduced to the image of a black hole on paper. He pushes
the black hole aside, until his realisation hits after his cup falls through,
creating the inciting incident.
Due to this film having no dialogue,
the spectators are left to interpret the mans wants. This is shown through the
characters expression, especially through his eyes and therefore induces the
rising action. The characters exhaustion has now been transformed into
curiosity, making him want to fulfill his greed, which arguably is what he wants
but not what he needs. Supporting his curiosity, the mans actions start to
heighten with the black hole, by taking a chocolate bar out of the vending
machine then having a direct eye line to the room with the safe. This happens within
a short amount of time which could represent that he is basing his fundamental
human value to his financial worth, making himself consumed by his own greed,
like an addiction.
With the characters determination
to feed his craving of excitement and money, he uses the black hole to unlock
the door to the safe. Therefore, this tells the spectator that this is a goal
orientated story, as the protagonist now has a clear view into what his aim is
and is also the climax to the story. This can be the point in the story where
the spectators now have a full understanding of the true intent of his character
and can even highlight some of his internal conflict such as the struggle for
money and how that reflects his self-worth.
At the end of the short film, the
character gets himself stuck within the safe, which is the resolution. This
happens due to him figuring out that he can use the black hole to ultimately rob
the office, yet his desire gets the better of him and eventually goes inside
the safe, with a piece of sticky tape failing and the paper falls. Throughout
the short film, the piece of paper grows larger, which can parallel to his greed
increasing as he realises the power he literally holds, almost a supernatural theme,
and eventually that overwhelming gluttony. The ironic ending almost flips the expectation
of the spectator and furthermore has greater impact in its meaning and symbolism;
greed can be used as an abuse of power and that it is easy to be imprisoned by
our infatuations, making it like a curse.
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