Jackson Booth-Millard I was very surprised to receive an email asking me to review this ten minute short film, not just from the Company Director of the film studio that made it, but from the director himself, Daniel Cormack, so I was very happy to do so. Basically, in London, Amelia (Natasha Powell) and Michael (Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Little Britain's Anthony Head) are a married successful upper class middle aged couple who dress smartly and have great affection for each other. However, Amelia is seen dropped off outside a restaurant, and after the car leaves she removes her wedding ring and gets a taxi to another location. Michael meanwhile in his office is booking an anniversary meal at a restaurant with a hotel room as well for Friday, and on that morning he is supposedly leaving for a business trip to Milan. In fact he is going to the restaurant and hotel room with an escort who he sleeps with, and Amelia is seen in a hospital by the bed of a young man in a coma. The next morning Amelia and Michael exchange pleasantries, and tidying opened letters away she finds her husband's unused passport, but she receives a phone call before she can confront him, it is from the hospital. She is too late and finds out that the young man has died, and she returns home in tears, Michael assumes she has found out about his infidelity, but they hug and comfort each other. The final scene sees them in a car together, waiting for traffic lights and next to a motorbike that passes them, we are unsure how they are feeling towards each other because of the open ending. Also starring Julian Lee as Francis, Justin Stahley as Hospitalised Man, Mac Elsey as Consultant, Rebecca Cooper as Nurse and Naomi Martin as Call Girl. The performances by Head and Powell are not bad, they are suitably monotone, the story is short and simple, but even short it has interesting moments with the couple who obviously love each other but have their desires challenged, a reasonable British drama. Worth watching!

MartinHafer Occasionally, young filmmakers contact me and ask me to watch their short films. I am nobody that important--just a nutty guy who has done a bazillion reviews on IMDb. I always give the films a viewing, though if I don't like the film I usually don't review them. It's because I don't want to harm a struggling young artist--and a few negative reviews can do that for a short. However, in the case of "Amelia and Michael", I was glad to post a review because it was a thoroughly professional looking piece--and one that shows that Daniel Cormack is extremely talented. It also shows that he must know somebody, as the film looks quite expensive and stars Anthony Head--an actor who is often in great demand and must not have been easy to get for such an independent film.The story is one that actually might be best seen AFTER you read the IMDb summary. This is because what, exactly, is happening isn't readily apparent. This is NOT a criticism--just a comment about the subtlety of the film. I won't completely explain the plot--as I said, just read it yourself. The film is about a couple who SHOULD be quite happy--at least according to society's standards. They are quite wealthy--so well to do that the husband (Head) has a private car pick him up and drive him about and he can jet over to Milan for business. In fact, the pair go through the motions of being happy--while both have their affairs and live separate lives in the same household. It's a life of quiet desperation...and it's profoundly sad.The film is striking when you watch the camera-work and hear the very evocative music. While the story is depressing and slow, the amazing professionalism of the project is what struck me. I am surprised that after making this film and "Nightwalking" that Cormack has not been in huge demand. You'd think such professional looking films would create a ton of folks pressing him to work on other projects. His work deserves to be seen and appreciated.

UnchartedFilms This short film shows how a good director and a fairly simple idea can tell a dramatic story (with all it's complexities) in ten minutes, that somewhere else could take two hours to unfold. Beautifully shot and great performances by the actors. A marriage is going through a rough patch, whatever the causes, we see the effects. It's a tale about the lack of communication between a man and a woman. Much is told by their silences. The end will make you want to know what happens next as Micheal says "it was just the once," confessing to what he's done, and Amelia crumbles having reached breaking point for more than just her husband's betrayal.

Claudio Carvalho In London, the executive Michael (Anthony Head) and his wife Amelia (Natasha Powell) have successful upper class lifestyle, living in a comfortable house, having a fancy car with driver and showing a great respect and affection to each other. However, Amelia has a lover in coma in the hospital, and she frequently visits him and pays the expenses of his treatment. While traveling to Milan in a business trip, Michael has one night stand with an escort girl. Amelia receives a phone call, and when she arrives in the hospital, she realizes that her lover has died. When Michael returns from Milan, their lives return to their hypocrite routine."Amelia and Michael" has only 10 minutes running time, but director Daniel Cormack is able to perfectly compile and disclose the masks of the wasted relationships in his short. The tight and sharp screenplay uses ellipsis to unravel the hypocrite and accommodated relationship of a middle-aged couple, but unfortunately it is not possible to develop how their affective lives have become so shallow. I know the actor Anthony Head from Buffy series, and I really liked his performance in a dramatic role. Natasha Powell is unknown for me, but has also a great performance. The stylish cinematography and lighting are impressive for a low-budget short, and I liked the last scene with the reference of the motorcycle passing by Amelia's car indicating that their lives will remain the same. My vote is eight.Title (Brazil): Not Available