Why Watch? Last year, The Shore won the Oscar for Best Live-Action Short Film, and after seeing Terry George‘s work, it’s easy to see why. The Hotel Rwanda director, here returning to his usual tilt toward the Troubles in Northern Ireland, creates a fragile layer of drama where an ocean of familial tension lies frozen and threatening underneath.
It’s heady, tough work, but it’s also surprisingly easy to watch because of the clean character portraits being created. Cirian Hinds and Conleth Hill (who fans of Game of Thrones will be happy to see) shine in stony roles as two childhood friends now grown who are reunited after a falling out during the Troubles sent them on separate journeys. Fortunately, everyone involved is wise enough to add some smiles into the sweet pain of alienation to remind us all what doing the difficult task is really worth. By the time Rio Bravo-style music paints the climactic near-silly chase through the mud, it’s clear that this short is a masterful blend of laughter and tears.
What will it cost? Around 30 minutes.