Artists like Dick Jane appeal to The Independent Critic. Fiercely independent and openly anti-social network, Jane seems to prefer to allow his artistic expression to speak for itself and, indeed, it does.

0,1,2,3,1,0 is a 10-minute experimental short film centered around a heartbroken widow (Graseila Andrade) surrendering to the darkness within her on the anniversary of her husband's (Scott William) murder at the hands of his mistress (Victoria Brocklehurst).

The film opens with a German language narration (English subtitles) serving as companion to images of a woman's apparent suicide. 0,1,2,3,1,0 weaves together sound, images, narration and atmosphere to create a hypnotic journey through life, death, memory, suffering and surrender. Filmed on an ultra-indie budget, Jane transcends what one normally expects from an ultra-indie short by taking what is, essentially, a simple concept and perfecting it.

This is not to say that 0,1,2,3,1,0 is a simple film. Far from it. However, writer/director/producer Dick Jane essentially wraps the film around a single moment and builds up to it through the use of visuals, sounds and atmosphere along with the terrific camera work of Brandon Fraley. So many filmmakers make the mistake of trying to throw distraction upon distraction at the screen, but Jane focuses the film so clearly on this single moment that even without traditional narrative or even extensive character development he manages to draw you into the fullness of this experience.

Jane's production design is stellar and the tech credits for 0,1,2,3,1,0 are quite solid throughout the film's 10-minute running time. The usual sound mix issues and inconsistent imagery are mostly non-existent here, and Jane's editing is surprisingly crisp and concise.

0,1,2,3,1,0 has had a limited festival run including out of competition at the Action on Film Festival and is getting ready for a limited DVD release. For more information on the film and Dick Jane, visit Dick Jane's website. However, don't look for him on Facebook, Twitter, Youtube or Myspace - he's sworn off the social networking scene!


© Written by Richard Propes
The Independent Critic