ShortFilmsMatter.com
ShortFilmsMatter.com
SUBMIT
submit

Twelfth Night Afternoon

Synopsis

Drama teacher Amelia cuts off her miserable marriage with a pair of scissors. When her ingenuous student Sophia shows up for a rehearsal, Amelia hides the scissors along with her deepest longings. However, through the lines of ‘Twelfth Night’, an emotional and spiritual bond is revealed between the duo.

Review

5/5
A tense adaption of Shakespeare’s ‘Twelfth Night’.
Written and directed by Yi Lu, ‘Twelfth Night Afternoon’ is a experimental adaption of William Shakespeare’s ‘Twelfth Night’. The 13-minute modern interpretation centers around an intimate student/teacher relationship as they portray Viola and Olivia for a private one-on-one rehearsal. The film stars Kezia Cotterrell as Sophia (Viola), with Farah Safari as Amelia (Olivia). Set in present-day England, the narrative utilizes the iambic pentameter from Shakespeare’s text, and explores themes of female empowerment and abuse with a homosexual underbelly.

The short opens with a startled Amelia, afresh from her husband’s physical abuse, answering the front door to Sophia – her keen drama student. The narrative delves into their developing intimacy as they recite Act 1, Scene 5 from the romantic comedy play. Lines begin to blur between reality and fiction as their connection intensifies.

Twelfth Night Afternoon
Under Yi Lu’s artistic direction, with accomplished cinematography by Nizah Elias, ‘Twelfth Night Afternoon’ is fraught with poignancy, tension and trepidation. Text from the play is finely exhibited during the opening and closing scenes – an honorable nod to the English playwrite. Terrell and Safari deliver outstanding portrayals that are certain to keep viewers on tenterhooks. Sound, post-production and musicality are equally commendable. Highly recommended viewing.

Cast/Crew

Director(s): Yi Lu
Writer(s): William Shakespeare, Yi Lu
Cast: Farah Saffari, Kezia Cotterrell
Producer(s): Bingqing Zhou, Ruonan Jiang, Tianjia Lou
Director of Photography: Nizah Elias
Animation (if applicable):

Specifications

Genre: ,
Subjects: , , , , , ,
Collections: ,
Country:
Language: English
Year: 2022
Runtime: 13 min

Recommended

5/5

Lost Hills, CA.

Based on a poem, this adaptation tells the story of a family living together in a Lost Hills, CA. trailer park. Together, with their…
  • Experimental, LGBTQ+
  • United States
  • 2010
  • 5 min
5/5

Say the Quiet Part Loud

Kore, an alcoholic, heads towards a dissociative fugue state….
  • Drama, Experimental
  • United States
  • 2022
  • 24 min
5/5

Our Stories Matter

A documentary that explores the Isle of Wight’s hidden LGBTQ+ connections….
  • Documentary, LGBTQ+
  • United Kingdom
  • 2021
  • 40 min
5/5

Barracón 2

Jordi, a rebellious and captivating young man, is going through problems with his studies and family that will make him decide to join the…
  • LGBTQ+, Romance
  • Spain
  • 2022
  • 2 min
5/5

Luck is Alive

The story of an African surfer who is a believer in Animism, a sensibility prevalent among surfers throughout Africa. Animism is based on the…
  • Experimental
  • South Africa
  • 2021
  • 5 min
5/5

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

Cast/Crew

Director(s): Yi Lu
Writer(s): William Shakespeare, Yi Lu
Cast: Farah Saffari, Kezia Cotterrell
Producer(s): Bingqing Zhou, Ruonan Jiang, Tianjia Lou
Director of Photography: Nizah Elias
Animation (if applicable):

Specifcations

Genre: ,
Subjects: , , , , , ,
Collections: ,
Country:
Language: English
Year: 2022
Runtime: 13 min

Recommended

5/5

The Nobody Prayer

  • Drama, LGBTQ+
  • Canada
  • 2021
A young man calls out to the only one that understands him as he is torn between who he is and the faith he cherishes….
5/5

A Dull Roar, then Light

  • Experimental, Fantasy
  • Australia
  • 2022
A woman goes on a journey of self-discovery, exploring aspects of her wounded self-made manifest as other people….

Twelfth Night Afternoon

Synopsis

Drama teacher Amelia cuts off her miserable marriage with a pair of scissors. When her ingenuous student Sophia shows up for a rehearsal, Amelia hides the scissors along with her deepest longings. However, through the lines of ‘Twelfth Night’, an emotional and spiritual bond is revealed between the duo.

Review

A tense adaption of Shakespeare's 'Twelfth Night'.

5/5
Written and directed by Yi Lu, ‘Twelfth Night Afternoon’ is a experimental adaption of William Shakespeare’s ‘Twelfth Night’. The 13-minute modern interpretation centers around an intimate student/teacher relationship as they portray Viola and Olivia for a private one-on-one rehearsal. The film stars Kezia Cotterrell as Sophia (Viola), with Farah Safari as Amelia (Olivia). Set in present-day England, the narrative utilizes the iambic pentameter from Shakespeare’s text, and explores themes of female empowerment and abuse with a homosexual underbelly.

The short opens with a startled Amelia, afresh from her husband’s physical abuse, answering the front door to Sophia – her keen drama student. The narrative delves into their developing intimacy as they recite Act 1, Scene 5 from the romantic comedy play. Lines begin to blur between reality and fiction as their connection intensifies.

Twelfth Night Afternoon
Under Yi Lu’s artistic direction, with accomplished cinematography by Nizah Elias, ‘Twelfth Night Afternoon’ is fraught with poignancy, tension and trepidation. Text from the play is finely exhibited during the opening and closing scenes – an honorable nod to the English playwrite. Terrell and Safari deliver outstanding portrayals that are certain to keep viewers on tenterhooks. Sound, post-production and musicality are equally commendable. Highly recommended viewing.

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