Sisyphus Unbound – A Short Film Review
“Sisyphus Unbound” is an excellent showcase for debut director Ryan Fleming displaying his talent for story telling. This is an extremely enthralling short that I highly recommend.
What’s it all about?
Virgil, a college writing student, hopes to have his latest story published, but he must first get over one major hurdle before his work gets out to the world, his mercurial writing professor Richard Laymen.
My Opinion
From the first few seconds, Sisyphus Unbound draws you in with some excellent framing and camera work. The close up shots really give the audience a feeling of Virgil’s state of mind. I found this an excellent opening sequence. The sudden change of pace as Virgil walks into Gwen Laymen completely brings the quick pace to a stop and throws the audience straight into the story. I thought that was a great introduction to the characters and the universe. Cinematographer Ashtin Francis and director Ryan Fleming should both be commended for sculpting such a great opening few moments.
I do feel as though they could have been a little bit more adventurous with the camera overall. They did a great job of framing some of the shots and kept the action closed in, but the heavy use of the OTS shot did get a little repetitive and a little more variety would have helped to keep things a little more interesting. It does keep the story very intimate but maybe a little more breathing space could have helped. I’m not sure if that was due to the cramp conditions of the room they were filming in? There were also a few moments where the shaky camera does take you out of it slightly, I had a feeling they were trying to be a fixed cam but maybe didn’t have the facilities to do that although not massively noticeable or damaging to the overall enjoyment of the film.
Writer and director Ryan Fleming has a superb outing in his debut short. The story is both intriguing and captivating, showcasing his abilities as a great storyteller. He weaves small details into the story giving them more powerful meanings, such as the clock ticking and the mechanical pencil tapping. These small details really connect the scenes together, particularly in the opening few minutes and really help to build up the tension.
The themes of ‘not giving up’ are really prominent and definitely leave the audience with a positive feeling of chasing your dreams and not giving up. I thought Fleming demonstrated a strong understanding of visual story-telling, taking the audience on a journey and delivering an ending that will leave them fulfilled. I am sure there will be many people watching this short that have had that feeling of being held down and Fleming really allows the audience to relate to this scenario and share the feeling of not giving up.
I thoroughly enjoyed the chemistry between Virgil and Richard Leyman. I felt as though you could feel the tension between the two brewing and they seemed to bounce off each other very well. Gwen really refreshes the scene whenever she enters, lightening the more serious moments of the short. Her bubbly character is a very pleasing contrast and an immediately likeable character.
Another highlight of “”Sisyphus Unbound” is an excellent showcase for debut director Ryan Fleming displaying his talent for story telling. This is an extremely enthralling short that I highly recommend.” is the musical score. The opening and closing credits are accompanied with a piano led composition that could be best described as lounge music, but it really fits the short and complements it well.
Notable Performances
Frederick J. Todd plays Virgil. Todd gives us a fine performance in this lead role and seems to effortlessly display the physical mannerisms and over-arching anxieties of the character without falling into over-acting territory. He gets the balance exactly right. His interactions with others seem equally effortless, he manages to build an instant rapport with Gwen and a strong chemistry with Richard.
Timothy J Cox plays Richard Leyman. Cox always excels in these authoritative roles. His presence instantly draws attention and his demeanour portrays a superior authority that demands respect. Cox is so convincing in his role and has an excellent chemistry with both his fellow actors. In particular the time he shares on screen with Todd show so much promise it left me wanting more interaction between the pair.
Emerson Adams plays Gwen Leyman. Adams is a refreshing breath of fresh air in this film , Her happy demeanor and contagious smile beams positivity. I thought she really counteracts the more negative interactions and brings an excellent balance to the short. She is convincing in her role and strikes up and instant chemistry with Todd which was impressive.
The Verdict
“Sisyphus Unbound” is a fantastic debut for writer and director Ryan Fleming. Fleming shows a lot of promise as a story teller while some great camera work from Ashtin Francis makes sure it is captured to a high standard. The exceptional talent all bring their ‘A’ game to ensure that this story gets the credit it deserves, breathing life into their respective characters. I feel as though everyone involved in this short have a lot to offer the world of film and this will not be the last you see from them. This short has a strong message to give and this team have done an amazing job of making sure you know what that means.
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