ShortFilmsMatter.com
ShortFilmsMatter.com
SUBMIT
submit

Mirror

Synopsis

Located in a forest during the Victorian Era, a girl struggles with anorexia. Her best friend tries to bring joy to her, but is mostly unsuccessful. In many scenes the audience will see whimsical tea parties, a beautiful person judging the girl in a mirror, and some contemporary dance scenes between a beautiful friendship all while a clock is ticking in the background. Will Anorexia over take the girl, or will she and her friend be able to combat it?

Review

3/5
An experimental film that delves into a woman’s battle with Anorexia.
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).

Mirror Short Film
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.

Cast/Crew

Director(s): Heidi Woods
Writer(s): Heidi Woods
Cast: Ana Buchan, Emily Daniels, Mitch Nganga
Producer(s): Heidi Woods
Director of Photography: Lydia Burton
Animation (if applicable):

Specifications

Genre: ,
Subjects: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Collections: ,
Country:
Language: English
Year: 2022
Runtime: 7 min

Recommended

4/5

Jailbird Diner

Somewhere in America, revenge is served all night long: When a murderer and a waitress are trapped by a thunderstorm, the line blurs between…
  • Animation, Thriller
  • United States
  • 2022
  • 8 min
3/5

Scission

At the peak of quarantine, many were feeling afraid of the outside world. This short poetic documentary explores that feeling of uncertainty….
  • Documentary, Experimental
  • United States
  • 2020
  • 3 min
4/5

Public Notice

A music-driven essay film about greed, excess, and the price of unbound suburban development….
  • Documentary, Experimental
  • Sweden
  • 2023
  • 3 min
5/5

Tutu Grande

Pain is Temporary. Trauma Is Forever.

The tables are turned on a torturer. In a mysterious backwoods warehouse, a vengeful father teaches a young…

  • Drama, Thriller
  • United States
  • 2018
  • 13 min
5/5

Stronger Than You Think

Break free from your fears. You are stronger than you think….
  • Action, Experimental
  • Belgium
  • 2022
  • 1 min
4/5

Sip

As a couple gets set for a nice quiet evening at home, their plans are interrupted by an unexpected guest. The head of the…
  • Thriller
  • United States
  • 2022
  • 18 min

Cast/Crew

Director(s): Heidi Woods
Writer(s): Heidi Woods
Cast: Ana Buchan, Emily Daniels, Mitch Nganga
Producer(s): Heidi Woods
Director of Photography: Lydia Burton
Animation (if applicable):

Specifcations

Genre: ,
Subjects: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Collections: ,
Country:
Language: English
Year: 2022
Runtime: 7 min

Recommended

4/5

Poolside

  • Experimental, Thriller
  • United States
  • 2020
Meg Stephens is a 1950’s high society housewife who put her dreams aside for her family but is left to fend for herself with the aid of alcohol, Librium and Valium, and her own mental stability in a massive modern home with a golf course view. While swimming in…
3/5

To A God Unknown

  • Drama, Experimental
  • Italy
  • 2020
A journey within some poetic verses by Sergey Esenin and Arthur Rimbaud intertwining with a novel by John Steinbeck. To join each other are primordial elements such as the water, blood, fire, love, God.

A deeper reading key suggests that the three chapters deals the theme of ritual sacrifice in…

Mirror

Synopsis

Located in a forest during the Victorian Era, a girl struggles with anorexia. Her best friend tries to bring joy to her, but is mostly unsuccessful. In many scenes the audience will see whimsical tea parties, a beautiful person judging the girl in a mirror, and some contemporary dance scenes between a beautiful friendship all while a clock is ticking in the background. Will Anorexia over take the girl, or will she and her friend be able to combat it?

Review

An experimental film that delves into a woman's battle with Anorexia.

3/5
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).

Mirror Short Film
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.

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