'Drown' might not be a perfect short film, but audiences notice when you try to do something different and they give you credit for it. The movie presents the story of a very frustrated man and, towards the end, the way he deals heartbreak. Furthermore, it tells a story that shows both intimate moments and heart-wrenching fights.

 

The short film has good cinematography. The camera work is on point, the angles and POVs manage to capture the action in an interesting way. The song playing in the background in the beginning and during the end credits is an excellent choice for this short film. The lyrics foreshadow the troublesome relationship between the two protagonists.

 

The characters are very few but the way they react in certain situations in the story is very telling of what kind of personality they have. Brando seems to be dealing with self-esteem issues, anger management, possible sex addiction, as well as a drinking problem, hence the title 'Drown'. His troubles don’t seem to be caused one by the other, but they are rather neatly interwoven, like a perfect twine basket of misery. He seems to really love Dafne, and she does too, yet she cannot stand his antics and fits of rage. That’s why she says “you make me sick” after he admits to cheating on her while making it clear that he did not actually go through with it. That is still cheating and Dafne won’t stand for any of it, so she chooses to leave.

 

The story is quite original and it manages to make the viewers pay attention to what is happening, even if it does so in a somewhat unorthodox way. The scenes do not seem to follow a logical narrative thread, but that is the appeal of this short. The flashbacks and the erratic way in which the story is presented showcases Brando’s state of mind. His inner turmoil and constant conflict of self is what makes the audience root for him, even though he proves to be a bit of an ass.

 

After the sex scene with his colleague, when he hangs his head in shame, it is impossible not to make a comparison between this film and Steve McQueen’s movie, 'Shame'. Whether this was purely coincidental or intentional, only the director knows. Nevertheless, it is a big advantage for the short.

 

With multiple scenes of intimate acts and various fights, whether domestic or bar brawls, the movie is certain to attract audiences from all walks of life. It has all the elements needed to keep audiences at the edge of their seats, and the plot contains many twists and turns which leave the viewer wondering what to expect next. In this day and age, break-ups seem to be more common than ever. So there’s little to no doubt that a lot of people would enjoy this movie, as many of them have probably gone through the same thing.