Two sisters sit a the dinner table, sharing a meal, while one protects her son who is in drug addiction withdrawal and the other drinks to remember the past.
Written by Kitty Edwinson and directed by Amanda Deering Jones, the story here is beautifully written and directed, giving the viewer the kind of story that gives an emotional wallop while keeping them glued to their screens. This is how you write and direct a short film that will remain in people’s minds long after it has ended. The writing here is connected, natural, emotional, and organic; nothing feels forced from the actions to the dialog. The direction makes the most if the script and the cast here.
The entire cast is magnificent, each giving nuanced, natural yet calculated performances. The film here has a cast of three people, all of whom give great performances. Pascale Roger-McKeever is heartbreaking as Dorie, the mother to the addict son, giving the kind of performance that is so real; it hurts. Her work here makes the whole film worth tracking down just to see her. Joining her at the table as Marinka is Emilie Talbot who gives as solid of a performance but less emotional, less painful. Joining these two as the son who is in withdrawal and plotting his escape is Elliott Thomas West who gets little screen time but makes the most of it, giving a performance that would crush a loved one’s heart. These performances here make the film and make it so powerful. They all bring so much to the proverbial table that it’s hard to notice anything else in the film. They are the film, the tell and sell the story, they make this viewing experience worth the emotions.
The cinematography by Sarah Simka Jaffee is beautiful with careful attention to light and framing, giving the characters the space they need to be, to breath, to have emotions. The editing by Sushila Love works with this and gives the character the same. These two work together in a harmonious manner to make the film more than just two ladies at a kitchen table.
In just 14 minutes, Little Mother Lies has more impact on the viewer than many feature films about family and addiction. There is a lot to unpack here, and a few watches are de rigueur to really comprehend and appreciate it all. The emotions are raw, poignant, and make the whole film feel like it’s happening in real time in front of our eyes.