SWEETEST VACATION
REVIEWS

Do You Want To Take a Trip To A Lonely Island Lost in a Foggy Sea?

The Sweetest Vacation is a mini short film that has two innocuous words in its title- sweetest and vacation. And as a reviewer of this 5-minute film, I have to agree that they are successful in making these two words exciting. However, the film is not a guide to turn your next vacation sweet and happening, but it’s a funny take on how that ‘sweet’ thing can turn your vacation fun as well as bizarre. Wondering what that ‘sweet’ thing is? Well, I can’t tell you that here because then it would be a spoiler. However, I think if you take just 5 minutes from your busy schedule, you’ll enjoy it.

Although it has a funny ending, I believe the film has shown the ill-effects of consumerism. We live in a time when everything can be bought and sold. If you’ve money, you can access almost anything. However, this film doesn’t give any lectures on the ills of consumerism. The film was shot in America where the liberties of consumers is very high compared to other parts of the world. In different parts of the world, some things are still illegal which are legal in America. This film is the story of that illegal thing.

The short is a suspense-comedy genre. If you like suspense, you’ll definitely enjoy it. The film is seamless, irrespective of being just 5 minutes. It stays with you for some time. You’ll ponder about it after watching and definitely would love to talk about it with your friends. When the protagonist of the film thrusts into a different world, you’ll start contemplating doing the same thing. Even if you’re not from America, it will definitely amuse you. The film won’t bore you for sure.

The main protagonist of this film, known in the film as Sir, is a middle-aged man who finds himself alone at a place that he can’t recognize. Philip E. Walker played the role of Sir who uses his face excellently to express that he is at an unknown place. His blue color suit indicates he comes from a well-to-do background but somehow he is lost in between. One thing that caught my attention is his untidy beard. This is the sign that he is in a different world which he can’t recognize. At the end of the film, you’ll be able to understand what causes that untidiness. What causes that delusion is the crux of the short. In other roles, Margaret Newborn, Daniela Lugo, Jacquetta Green and Vincent J Isaac are also good. However, it is Mark Chinnery, playing the role of Michael Ronco, who stands out from the rest. His nonchalant attitude makes the character intriguing and interesting.

The director of the film, Ryan Steven Harris is successful in creating a world that may be new to a few of you. It is evident that he wanted to tell a simple story in a simple manner. The way he created his worlds is also very fascinating. Whether the story is autobiographical or not, I don’t know. But you can sense that the writer knew about the experiences that Sir went through in the film. The DoP, Franklin Whitlatch. has done an exceptional job in a few scenes. The first scene of the film is absolutely fascinating. The way he used close-up shots is really fascinating. The sound-design of the film is also very interesting as we can hear a host of different tunes throughout the film. One thing that caught my attention is the use of colors. Ryan has used bright colors to make the ‘sweetest’ thing more prominent.

Interestingly, the film uses a prop, a toy owl, in a very clever way. It seems like a logo of an unknown world. Talking about an unknown world, not everyone in the film is simple and trustworthy like Sir, our protagonist. People have different ideas to put Sir in problem. There are a whole bunch of people who try to misguide Sir for their own interest. There is a scene in the film where Sir meets his own self and is still unable to trust that person. I believe the film tries to address the mental health issue in a very candid manner where Sir starts projecting people and starts behaving like a mad man. However, Sweetest Vacation is a nice movie to watch..

yourself.