ShortFilmsMatter.com
ShortFilmsMatter.com
SUBMIT
submit

Who’s Counting?

Synopsis

The story of a couple as they endure the pain and trauma of successive miscarriages.

Review

5/5
A poignant drama about miscarriage.
Written and directed by Ben Lankester, ‘Who’s Counting’ is a short drama film that explores a couple’s journey with multiple miscarriages. The film stars Sarah Beck Mather and Tom Petty as the unfortunate couple, unravelling their heartbreak, determination and an unjust health system. Exploring themes of loss, hope and parenthood, the drama is delivered as a campaign for change. Despite having a non-linear narrative, the drama is filled with scenes of poignancy and elation, which makes for captivating viewing.

The 5-minute film opens with a medical appointment, where the couple discuss their occurring miscarriages. Highlighting scenes of joy, intertwined with tragedy, gives the film a unique quality that allows viewers to empathize with the couple’s turmoil. The drama doesn’t shy away from revealing the innocent, albeit clichéd reactions that family and friends can impose – which can be an anguish in itself.

Whos Counting
Ben Lankester has created a striking short that has an important message at its core. The entire narrative is intended to be educational and bring awareness to the commonality of miscarriage (1 in 4 woman). A startling fact, within the United Kingdom, is that woman can only qualify for support after their third miscarriage. ‘Who’s Counting’ is a film that is inspired by the director’s personal experience – with the goal to create a ‘Record of Loss’ database to count the number of miscarriages in the UK. Visually, the film is professionally captured with high quality cinematography and post-production. Sarah and Tom’s performances are highly commendable throughout – enough to feel engrossed in their characters emotional journey. Highly recommended.

Cast/Crew

Director(s): Ben Lankester
Writer(s): Ben Lankester
Cast: Sarah Beck Mather, Tom Petty
Producer(s): Kate Miller, Lauren Tyson
Director of Photography:
Animation (if applicable):

Specifications

Genre:
Subjects: , , , , , , , ,
Collections: ,
Country:
Language: English
Year: 2021
Runtime: 5 min

Recommended

4/5

A Royal Marines Disposition

One mans story about his experiences during the Falklands war….
  • Documentary, Drama
  • United Kingdom
  • 2022
  • 18 min
4/5

A Message Never Sent

In the midst of a global pandemic, two lovers in isolation search for closure in a relationship falling to pieces….
  • Drama, Experimental
  • United States
  • 2022
  • 5 min
5/5

While We Wait

A woman reflects on her rosy relationship….
  • Comedy, Drama
  • Norway
  • 2022
  • 6 min
5/5

Nerd

Nerd is a dramatic monologue examining the nature of power in a contemporary context.

In the arts and entertainment industry, money and power is…

  • Drama
  • United Kingdom
  • 2022
  • 41 min
4/5

Come Back

The film tells the story of a woman who was once again abused by her husband. Like many victims, she is at a loss,…
  • Drama, Experimental
  • Russia
  • 2022
  • 2 min
4/5

Ma’s Kitchen

A semi-autobiographical short film about Debbie Vu, her mother, their language barrier and straddling between two very different cultures, Vietnamese and American….
  • Drama
  • United States
  • 2022
  • 12 min

Cast/Crew

Director(s): Ben Lankester
Writer(s): Ben Lankester
Cast: Sarah Beck Mather, Tom Petty
Producer(s): Kate Miller, Lauren Tyson
Director of Photography:
Animation (if applicable):

Specifcations

Genre:
Subjects: , , , , , , , ,
Collections: ,
Country:
Language: English
Year: 2021
Runtime: 5 min

Recommended

5/5

Point Five

  • Comedy, Drama
  • United Kingdom
  • 2022
A nervous upper-class banker reluctantly gets dragged into a hostile transaction with an extremely unorthodox drug dealer….
4/5

Schooltime

  • Drama
  • Canada
  • 2023
Do broken people break more people? The short film weighs this question closely. It looks at the trail of damage a disturbed teenager leaves behind in an act of fatal violence fueled by a life of hate and neglect. Cole is a young single father who comes undone by…

Who’s Counting?

Synopsis

The story of a couple as they endure the pain and trauma of successive miscarriages.

Review

A poignant drama about miscarriage.

5/5
Written and directed by Ben Lankester, ‘Who’s Counting’ is a short drama film that explores a couple’s journey with multiple miscarriages. The film stars Sarah Beck Mather and Tom Petty as the unfortunate couple, unravelling their heartbreak, determination and an unjust health system. Exploring themes of loss, hope and parenthood, the drama is delivered as a campaign for change. Despite having a non-linear narrative, the drama is filled with scenes of poignancy and elation, which makes for captivating viewing.

The 5-minute film opens with a medical appointment, where the couple discuss their occurring miscarriages. Highlighting scenes of joy, intertwined with tragedy, gives the film a unique quality that allows viewers to empathize with the couple’s turmoil. The drama doesn’t shy away from revealing the innocent, albeit clichéd reactions that family and friends can impose – which can be an anguish in itself.

Whos Counting
Ben Lankester has created a striking short that has an important message at its core. The entire narrative is intended to be educational and bring awareness to the commonality of miscarriage (1 in 4 woman). A startling fact, within the United Kingdom, is that woman can only qualify for support after their third miscarriage. ‘Who’s Counting’ is a film that is inspired by the director’s personal experience – with the goal to create a ‘Record of Loss’ database to count the number of miscarriages in the UK. Visually, the film is professionally captured with high quality cinematography and post-production. Sarah and Tom’s performances are highly commendable throughout – enough to feel engrossed in their characters emotional journey. Highly recommended.

Recommended

Frequently Asked Questions

Short Films Matter is an online short film platform that reviews independent short films from across the globe.

We are proud to feature the work of up-and-coming talent as well as established filmmakers.

Unlike other curated short film platforms, we never reject short films. All films submitted are guaranteed to be showcased on our website.

 

You can submit your short film for review using our submission form. Our submission fee is $50. 

Any submissions received via email or social media will be not be accepted.

No. Short Films Matter is a short film platform that reviews and promotes short films via our website and social media. We do not hold live screening events or competitions.

All short films on our platform are publicly available. Filmmakers can request we showcase a trailer instead.

If you would like to make any changes to your review page/or request deletion, you can do so via email.

1. All short films must be publicly hosted on YouTube or Vimeo. If your short film is currently in a festival season. you can submit a trailer. This can be and changed later once your festival season has concluded.

2. Short Films must be 40 minutes or less.

3. You can submit a film that was produced/released in any year, country or language.

4. We accept all types of short films, including: Action, Animation, Comedy, Drama, Documentary, Experimental, Horror, LGBTQ+, Music, Mystery, Sci-Fi and Thriller.

5. We do not refund submissions.

6. Subtitles are required if the film is not in the English language.

© 2023 Short Films Matter

Instagram Envelope