Draft of writing for film review page

ForgetMeNot

This is a first for new director Alice White, trained at London College of Communications she won the graduate award for her final show and has now gone on to direct the award nominated work, ForgetMeNot. White lives in London with her musician boyfriend, Kenneth Kas, whose music features on the film.

The first ting you notice when the film begins is the soft and eloquent voiceover, which speaks of love, and it’s different forms. ‘Is it the love of a cold ice-cream on a hot summers day?’ The sumptuous imagery created through the voice over is then supported through the three narratives.

Firstly, the schoolroom, this is where we meet a young girl and boy who steel glances at each other and pass love note. This brings back the nostalgia of youth and innocence. The thought that the only thing in the world is the boy you fancy or the girl who sits next to you in English class.

We then see a very annoyed teenager, stood waiting for someone, a position we’ve all been in. Then, low and behold, her boyfriend is running to meet her with a bunch of flowers in his hand. Another simple message of forgiveness is given through the voice over by the use of an extract from the Bible, Corinthians.

Lastly, we see a lovely elderly couple, hand in hand, walking down the street. Their path takes them through streets and woods, with clever editing this sequence is seamless and almost dream like. The film comes to an end when the couple arrive in their final destination, a graveyard. As the scene slowly fades to reveal the woman gone and the camera zooms out to show us the gravestones, we feel a sense of loss for the elderly man. It reminds us that we are both alone but still surrounded by love, even when we lose someone they will still be there.

White’s combination of beautiful motion and melodic voice are both complimented by the use of music from Matt Lungley and Kenneth Kas, both good friends of Whites, who only add to the romantic atmosphere. Lungley’s upbeat song fits perfectly with the young love and contrasts to Kas’s dark and brooding love song.

Although this film presents itself as a cliché, in many ways it is a love story through time. The passing of notes in school classrooms, holding hands and giving flowers are all icon of romance and enable us as an audience to remember the act of giving to those we love. Perhaps the director is trying to tell us something with this film, give more? Love strongly? Never forget? Whatever the message, this is a truly beautiful and artistic piece of video literature.