A man trying to survive in London after moving there recently finds himself in a position where he could change his life, but it requires something that makes him question if it’s worth it.
Written by Omar Elhanbouly and Robert Firth with the former also directing, this short film puts a lot of effective storytelling and emotions in the short run time allotted here. The writing here is careful and calculated, made to illicit a reaction along with the lead who is living the story. The characters are not numerous, so it gives the lead and the few others more room to be and to evolve, giving the lead the most screen time and focusing on his emotions was the right move here. The direction here is also careful, giving characters room to be, room to show how they feel, and room to grab the viewer, especially the lead. The film has a good flow of story and makes the most of its short run time while also showing that a short run time can be an advantage when used correctly.
The cast here is small with five people credited on IMDb including 2 who are voices and not seen. Playing the lead is writer-director Omar Elhanbouly who says very little and shows a whole world of emotions on his face as the story develops: stress, uncertainty, sadness, etc. He’s solid here and makes the most of his screen time. Joining him are Robert Firth as David/Raffi and Miguel Angel Plaza as Paco, both are strong supporting performers and while they hold their own, they are here to support the lead and it is clear that they kow this. The voice cast shows Adei Bundy as Mandy and Anna Tammela as Lexi, both of them do well here as well. The rest of the cast isn’t listed online, but there are a few other people here and there, all of whom give more than decent performances.
The look of the film here works well with the story with cinematography by Ziad Abdelbasit which lets the viewer see the locations and set design quite well. The scenes in the dressing room are fantastically well lit and well shot. The film here has a few moments where the camera shakes a little but generally, the look is solid and works great for the story.
Eyelashes is an emotional short film that should be sought for those who love short films and even for those who aren’t all that familiar with the format. It is one of those short films that is perfect in that format and shows that not all stories need 90 minutes or long run time. It’s well-written, well-directed, with strong performances, so it feels like it’s less than 5 minutes long (when it’s definitely longer). This is one solid short film that makes the viewer feel and think.