Mapleton Mail

How Much Impact Can Silence Have?

MOVIE REVIEW
Millstone

 -     

Genre: Short, Drama, Thriller
Year Released: 2023
Runtime: 16m
Director(s): Peter Hoffman Kimball
Writer(s): Peter Hoffman Kimball
Cast: Daniel Durant, Bellamie Bachleda, Eddie Buck
Language: American Sign Language (with English subtitles)
Where To Watch: Available virtually during the Slamdance Film Festival or for more information, please visit Don't Matter Media's Website


RAVING REVIEW: Thankfully, my film year is from Oscars to Oscars because this will easily make my favorite films of the year. I was honored to watch this in 2022, even though its rollout will be mainly in 2023.


Daniel Durant may look familiar if you saw last year's Oscar-winning film CODA. Although in this short film, all three main actors perform incredibly. What this movie means is something that is genuinely missing from cinema today. This was a unique experience, made that much better because it was an incredible film. While hopefully, one day, we can look at a movie shot entirely in American Sign Language (ASL) as something in the same vein as an International film, we’re not quite there yet.

I could go on and on about how groundbreaking this 16-minute film was. Instead, I would like to focus more on the movie itself, the film stars an all-deaf cast, but unlike CODA, the movie wasn’t about deafness. That, in part, is what made for such a unique experience; as I mentioned above, the ultimate goal will be to one day have films just listed as ASL instead of being a point of emphasis.

Initially, I wasn’t sure what to expect going into the film, but I was pretty on board with what I thought would happen after a few minutes. Then a wave hit, and the entirety of my understanding went overboard in the best way possible. This was a substantial and powerful experience, the twist in the film was so shocking and so unexpected that I don’t even feel it’s a spoiler by saying that because you won’t have any idea what it is or when it’s coming.

It amazes me when I watch a short like this; the amount of story that someone can fit into 16 minutes is mind-boggling. With a clear path, you can create an impressive story with a powerful impact. I suggest screening this virtually at the Slamdance Film Festival. If not, check out their website to see when the film will be available to the public.

For more reviews and my YouTube channel, please visit linktr.ee/Overlyhonestmoviereviews

Follow me on Letterboxd, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube. Find my social media accounts on most platforms simply by searching Overly Honest Movie Reviews.

I’m always happy to hear from my readers; please say hi or send me any questions about movies.

[photo courtesy of DON'T MATTER MEDIA]