Written and directed by Heidi Woods, ‘Mirror’ is an experimental thriller film that explores a young woman’s hindrance with anorexia nervosa. Emily Daniels stars as the central protagonist, with Mitch Nganga has her best friend. Ana Buchan portrays the personification of Anorexia, whose authority limits the protagonist’s pleasure. The entire narrative is delivered without verbal dialogue, focusing on character expression and musicality to convey the tone.
Throughout the 7-minute film, the main character – who endures an eating disorder – attends a elegant tea-party with her friend in the woods. Set in Victorian times, the film is meticulously crafted with era-accurate costume design and prop artistry. The narrative delves into the ever-present dominance of anorexia in the protagonist’s everyday life – in spite of being in the company of her vivacious best friend. The mirror, which runs alongside the antagonist (the human embodiment of anorexia), plays a pivotal role in the overall story – as the main character is conflicted between strength (through her best friend) and weakness (the mirror and the antagonistic force).
In spite of the film’s low-budget production quality and the omittance of all dialogue, the short is neatly crafted with praiseworthy performances by the female-led cast. Emily Daniels deserves high praise and acclaim for her authentic performance – delivering character fragility with respectable sensitivity. The musical soundtrack (Franz Gordon and Trevor Kowalski) aids the overall tone and poignancy that fits well with the visuals. Cinematography and post-production are of a reasonable standard. Highly recommended viewing.
