Oranges & Lemons

Children are like birds. They are little explorers of the world. Once they are ready to flap their wings and fly, they will soar high beyond boundaries. But often, life grounds us with limitations, expectations, or constraints with privileges because of one’s status, race, culture, or gender. Many are often typed cast because of appearance, gender, beliefs, and class. They encounter discrimination of different kinds, maltreatment, and unfair judgment. Our highlight short film of the day opened my mind to a different kind of perspective, specifically about life, storytelling, and movies. “Orange and Lemons” , a short film by Robyn Grace, took me to the breath-taking country of New Zealand. She featured the story of a little girl who is trying to find her place in her family and peers. It led her to explore an unfamiliar ground for little girls like her. This exploration of hers will surely play with your mind. And have many of you at the edge of your seat while watching, the way it did to me.

I  like the story of the short film “Orange and Lemons” because it gave me the ultimate challenge to see beyond the expected. It proved me wrong many times with my conclusions, and I admire its creator director Robyn Grace for doing so. At first, this film will give you the facade of what seems to be an adorable family movie, but then it will move your thoughts to peep into the darkness of your imagination, even though kids are involved. Then gradually, it will open your mind to a realization of how much we typecast situations, people, events, and how much we let our pre-biases get the best of our judgment. And that even with fictional stories or characters we see in movies or read in books, we initiate the limitations because of personal experiences or references. I, myself, am guilty about this. I thought that the story is somewhat like the critically acclaimed 2009 film The Lovely Bones. It stirred up thoughts in my head from that movie and connected the birdman and the little girl’s fate to what happened in the said movie. But director Robyn Grace gave me otherwise and proved her ingenious creativity in creating a story and distinctive touch and vision in putting it to films.

Oranges & Lemons is one of my top recommendations for the whole family to see. Because it teaches us of the significant factors we overlook in life, the little important details, things, or people we unknowingly disregard, and how our environment, good or bad, inevitably shapes us. Other than how creative and intelligent director Robyn Grace created the film, the little girls that starred in this movie, particularly our lead Skyler Sylvester, delivered a commendably wonderful performance. I love the pure innocence and realness of the scene, super effortless from these girls. Last but not least, the cinematography of this movie is divine. Undeniably award-winning in the cinematography division if you asked me. I fell in love with it right away. It gave a huge factor in delivering the energy of the story and complimented well with what director Robyn Grace is conveying in the film. Amazing work again from Robyn Grace and her incredible team of Oranges & Lemons.