There are times when we go back to the basics, when we go back to the movies that made us what we are. There are moments when we remember Rocky Balboa, and how he used to train, how he used to walk up and down the stairs and prepare for every fight like it was the last thing he did. Not only do we remember these moments, but they also help us overcome unexpected situations that are generally hard to cope with. The human mind is a creepy and mysterious place, playing with us in various ways.

 

‘A Friend’ is the short movie that brings back the memories that made us what we are: powerful, independent, smart, brave. Dan Simion’s short focuses on the bright side of life that can be found in the worst possible situations. A man finds himself lonely and alone, hiding in plain sight in an alleyway. He has second thoughts about what to do, and how to react. Another man walks by and offers to help him. The plot then builds up to a more metaphysical level, and the story we initially thought it would be about something basic and simple, becomes the story of a life that struggles between heaven and hell.

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It’s interesting how Dan Simion and Joseph Healey (the writer) imagined the world in ‘A Friend’ – it is tricky to understand the thin line of the narrative until the last part of the short, and even then, you need to be careful enough to get the subtle message they are sending. The flashbacks are predicting a revenge, a hasty action, but in fact, the story is becoming domestic and mellow with every passing minute. ‘A Friend’ is the short poem of a generation, definitely written by someone who was deeply inspired by all the classics that marked their childhood for good.

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