Little Darling
“Little Darling” is a short film about a courtroom artist who has to sketch a case regarding a copyright in the music industry. This film has a heavy theme throughout and plays with animation to the point where it merges both reality and the sketches this man draws. Visually compelling, an unique and original story, and a jarring experience all make this short film work on all levels that one wouldn’t have expected.
When this short film opens up, we are introduced to William Darling sleeping in his bed. His daughter wakes him up as she stands in the middle of the doorway. There’s something off putting about this scene and we soon find out that there is indeed something off putting. It’s a nightmare – one that is visually impressive and extremely creepy. When William wakes up he has to attend a court hearing to sketch it out. At this court hearing, we learn that it’s over a song that uses the same melody as another one. The courtroom plays both versions which pushes William to suffer from a hallucination and it screws up his drawing. Later at home he researches the song and yet another doodle-like hallucination happens. Each hallucination that William suffers from slowly reveals more about his past. Throughout the short we are left wondering how exactly these doodle visions actually relate to the song until the very end when everything pieces together. How exactly do they go hand-in-hand? Watch it and find out, because the reveal is quite staggering.
First and foremost, the animation of this short is what stood out the most. The fact the filmmakers decided to merge reality in with something conjured up and make a dimension that’s visually compelling, and interesting, to look at says how much ambition they had. I was left in awe trying to wrap my mind around how they could suddenly make it work and how exactly the set it up during the actual stages of filming the whole thing. It had a very music video vibe to it yet added a whole nother sense of surrealism to the short film.
Secondly, the fact this revolves around a man who does sketch work for courtrooms is pretty original. The filmmakers decided to incorporate drawings of sorts into his own psyche really does stand out and scream creativity. Everything about this short film is creative and although it gets a bit intense at times, it never loses sight of what the message and theme is towards the end.
The acting is just brilliant of William Darling. He made it so believable and the casting choice was quite impeccable for the role. There’s a presence about him that added a lot to the character he played and not for a second did I have to question if he was acting or if it was real. It felt real. This experience this man in the short film was having felt real and that’s what so intriguing and scary about it.
Overall, I’d say watch this just to see the animation come to life at the most unexpected moments in the short film. Watch this to see an actor bring a character to life only to uncover some dark hidden memories that remain a mystery until the end. Watch this for the direction and the cinematography. Just… watch this.
