From Azerbaijan, Aftermath writer/director Tofic Rzayev has crafted an emotionally honest eight-minute short film about a brother and sister, played effectively by Gizem Aybike Sahin and Berkan Uygun, dealing with the loss of their parents. While it's a weighty topic to handle within the short span of an eight-minute short film, Rzayev introduces the power of the story quickly and creates a deep, meaningful short film that is hindered primarily by the film's seemingly hand-held lensing that gives the film's more dramatic scenes a jarring sensibility that is less effective because it causes the viewer to lose focus on the characters.

Titled Akibet in its original Turkish language, Aftermath is shot in Turkish with English subtitles. The dialogue in the film is simple, yet for the most part effective. The film's production design presents itself in a very similar manner and effectively communicates the film's theme of loss. Gergo Elekes' original score is a beautifully melancholic piece of work that companions the film quite nicely, while the film's two performers possess a believable chemistry and seem to have a nice sense of pacing with one another.

While Aftermath isn't one of the best shorts I've seen this year, it's an effective indie/low-budget short that makes me anxious to watch the future growth of this filmmaker.

Written by Richard Propes
The Independent Critic