Name: A Series of Small Things
Genre: Drama, Short
Released: 2005-03-11
Duration: 23 min
Rating: 7.4
Cast: Phil Donlon, Pae Pae, Doug Jones

Powerful imagery, rich performances, gorgeous camera-work and lighting, cracking dialogue  sounds like a bit Hollywood blockbuster, doesn't it? Well, 'A Series of Small Things' has absolutely nothing to do with mainstream Hollywood kitch and everything to do with intimate, well-crafted independent film-making at its most heart-felt. Now, you wouldn't think a short film of around 23 minutes would have those attributes  but 'A Series of Small Things' has them all.

Actor/Director Phil Donlon's project has a message that is both heart-wrenching and uncomfortable to watch  and it is intended to be so. The film is at once both brutal and beautiful  violence and calm battle it out in an uncompromising vision that instead of leading the viewer into chaos, leads to understanding, and, ultimately, redemption and peace. The final shot, incidentally, is arrestingly beautiful.

Larry Wilson's spartan but right-on-the-nail dialogue complements excellent performances from an inspired cast  Donlon's nightmare-ridden artist is balanced perfectly by the understanding and heart of Jenn Pae's bereaved sister of a missing brother. Doug Jones' mysterious yet angelic Homeless Man, his shabby and hungry-looking exterior hiding an all-knowing, humorous and multi-faceted persona, is a joy  the glue that binds the 'small things' together to bring about the dénouement. This is just lovely stuff.

If I have one niggle, it's a small one, and is really intended as a comment rather than a concern. I wanted more  MUCH more. There is a lot of storyline that I wanted to explore, to seek, and if the film had been extended to 30 minutes or longer, it would have been even more fulfilling. There was so much left unsaid, and it is a tribute to the film makers that they packed in such a lot in such a short time. And, it has to be said, that if a film leaves the viewer wanting more then it has done its job.

'A Series of Small Things' is a rare thing in film-making  it is a film with soul.

The drama genre is a broad category that features stories portraying human experiences, emotions, conflicts, and relationships in a realistic and emotionally impactful way. Dramas delve into the complexities of human life, often exploring themes of love, loss, morality, societal issues, personal growth, with the aim to evoke an emotional response from the audience by presenting relatable and thought-provoking stories.

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The short form refers to creative works characterized by their brevity and concise storytelling. Unlike full-length feature films, short films have a running time of less than 45 minutes, while TV shorts have a running time of less than 22 minutes.

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A Series of Small Things

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