A house is about to be foreclosed on, a social worker is trying to help, inside the resident is trying to let go.
Written and directed by Hamish Sturgeon, this short film is a charming, lovely, sad drama about the reality of life for a select few people that rarely is seen, one that touches on many things including mental health, self-protection, and allowing one’s true self to shine when needed. There are layers upon layers in this barely-over-20-minutes film that show how much passion and care the filmmaker has put behind the film (and in front of the camera as the lead). There is something here that will touch anyone with a heart, and it all comes from the writing as a starting point. This is strong writing and strong direction, this is a masterclass in how to handle difficult subjects in a short period of time.
Leading the cast, writer-director Hamish Sturgeon sets the tone as Jack, but we do not get to see him until a bit further into the film. Showing up from the start is Natalie Mitchell as Shirley, the woman of the house, stuck inside due to agoraphobia, trying to find the courage to live and perhaps get out. Mitchell gives a stellar performance here, giving her character gravitas and nuance while keeping some mystery in just the right way. Sturgeon and Mitchell have a few fantastic scenes together, and the chemistry and understanding of each other is phenomenal to watch. The performances by the leads, and the supporting cast, sell this film 120%. In the supporting cast, Mary Angelo has the most screen time and she makes the most of it, giving the audience a character full of empathy and care, someone who knows life isn’t easy but she’s here to help. Angelo almost steals the scenes she has with both Mitchell and Sturgeon.
The cinematography by Jesse Aragon is also great, showing just the right things, withholding the right elements to allow the viewer to discover them, the way the work is done here is both pretty and effective. There is something going in the background of every scene, but the cinematography helps the viewer focus on what the filmmaker wants them to notice.
Gossamer is a lovely human drama with touching characters, solid writing and direction, and the acting is just so good. It’s a film that shows the power of a good story done by talented people while also showing the power of brevity. There is no need for more run time here, there is no need for more, everything that needed to be said, shown, and felt is contained within those 20 or so minutes, and they hit just right with this viewer. Gossamer is a contender for strongest short film of the year; it is simply that good.