Transience – A Short Film Review
Tan See Yun’s debut short ‘Transience’ is a bold and moving multi-layered film that requires a number of viewings to fully appreciate it. This six minute piece of silent cinema is not scared to take a chance and tells a powerful story.
What’s it All About?
Tom and George, a couple who have been together for many years have reached a crossroads in their relationship. George is moving ahead with a successful professional life, while Tom is still trying to enjoy life, as if he were in his 20’s, staying out late, partying hard. Will the party ever end for Tom? Will he commit to George fully?
My Opinion
Tan See Yun has given us a silent movie presented in black and white. A very bold move for Tan’s first short film. However there is a method to the madness, the undertones and symbolism really go a long way and discovering this will allow you to appreciate just how deep, powerful and moving this film is.
Tan was doing double-duties during this film. As well as being the writer and director, he was also producer and editor. Juggling these roles meant he could truly be responsible for getting the exact story he wanted translating on to screen.
Tan’s story as a whole was a very good one, but I felt there was one scene that was slightly confusing and was hindered by the lack of sound. There is a moment when Tom is running in the park and see’s George as an old man, sitting asleep, alone in the park with his chess board next to and empty chair. At first this is a little confusing to the viewer, but from what I can interpret from the piece is that this is a vision, best described as a dream-like sequence that Tom has. However, this is not clear and I feel as though Tan could have done with revisiting this scene, or even editing this slightly to make it more apparent that it is a vision.
The silent nature of the short means we are solely focusing on the actions and movements of the two main characters and their surroundings. It is also a great way to express their relationship as a whole, the pair not speaking or communicating with each other, they both seem to have gone their own separate ways, the silence is a great reflection of the relationship. This makes the conclusion all the more powerful with their seeming re-connection with the pair introduces music to the piece, a very moving, almost haunting, piano piece. The music serves its purpose very well and really makes a huge impact on the story.
The cinematography was a highlight of the short. Mark Boyle has done an amazing job with the camera. The decision to go black and white was a risk, but it definitely paid off. The lack of color is also a nice way of expressing the lack of life in the relationship between the pair. Some of the superb shots and camera angles gave us a visually pleasing and exciting piece that was a pleasure to watch. A picture can say a thousand words and this is a perfect example of that.
Notable Performances
Timothy J. Cox played George. This was a role that Timothy thrived in, allowing him to flex his acting muscles. His actions and movements are flawless as he conveys his feelings and emotions without having to say a word, the audience feels everything he does. Timothy has the ability to move an audience by the simplest of actions or the expression on his face. He manages to carry this complex story well in a superb performance.
Joshua Michael Payne plays Tom. Joshua is also in fine form here. His natural ability on-screen shines in this piece. Sometimes dialogue can really clog up a performance and the lack of it here allows Joshua to do his job, act. He gives an excellent performance, using his actions to speak much loader than any words could justify.
The Verdict
Overall, Tan See Yun has really made a big noise by attempting a very daring project. The artistic and multi-layered nature of the piece may not suite everyone but it was a great piece of cinema. A strong cast really made use of their talents to carry the silent story that was expertly captured on film. A solid effort and hopefully Tan will continue to attempt the bold and daring.
