"Slap" is a British 25-minute live action short film from 2014, so this one has its 5th anniversary this year and here we got the perhaps most known career effort by director and co-writer Nick Rowland. About the cast, there is not too much to say, no big name actors here, but this should surprise nobody for this being a short film. But it was successful with awards bodies, got in at the BAFTAs for Best British Short Film where it lost to a much short (and in my opinion better work). Only thing you can say about the cast here is that first-credited actor Joe Cole is of course not the soccer player. Can be said in days like these when Usain Bolt is looking for a football team, Bode Miller is playing tennis and Harry Kane has ambitions in American Football. Okay, this is the story of a young man who likes to dress up as a female you could say. But other than that, he is just an average male. He's got a fairly stunning blonde girlfriend. He is a fairly successful amateur boxer, but yeah the one thing about him is different. Of course, this is a film that will perhaps make some more waves and create more curiosity than it should in terms of quality because the subject is one many people will be curious about in the days of LBGT and gay-themed movies being an own genre. Well, I have never heard about straight-themed movies or hetero-themed movies. But it is fine I guess. After all, the main character here is seemingly hetero, just likes to run around in drag. But I guess fans of gay-themed movies will like the way in which his girlfiriend is depicted here as shallow, superficial and not worth "our hero". Of course, the guy he helped deserves him much more. It is really a baity movie. But not a particularly realistic one. I am not English, but overall, it is a pretty tolerant country all in all, especially if we compare it to the Arabic world in terms of perception of homosexuality and differing gender behavior. It also did not feel too realistic that always something happens when he appears to have make-up on or act like a girl. With this I mean of course mostly the moment the other guy gets beaten up in front of the house, but yeah, apart from that maybe it may not be the wisest idea to go full-female the moment you are supposed to enter the boxing ring at the gym, even if it is only training and anybody could get in any time and the coach does of course. The second half is slightly better, but not much. Overall, not worth checking out and the BAFTAs mistook quality filmmaking for political correctness once again unfortunately. Thumbs down from me for this film. 4 out of 10 is still on the generous side here and I cannot say I am too curious about Rowland's full feature film debut from the quality of this one here.
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Kirpianuscus31 March 2019Not the story, but the fine storytelling is the basic good point of this short film. A film about identity, courage, love and acceptance. And about rage. The play of nuances represents its basic point. And the science to not use the easy solutions for a drama who seems real simple - it is- but who has potential of parable. A good sportif and his secret . His friend, his girl friend, a party reminding "Carrie" scene and the option changing everything. And the best end. Because it seems the only reasonable.