Irish filmmaker Brian Stynes has been a fixture of Ireland’s indie film scene since the early 2010s. In that time, he directed an impressive eight short films and two features. Today’s format will be different: This review will focus on Mr. Stynes’ short films, analyzing each on their own merits. While they will receive a rating as a whole, each film is available for individual purchase and will therefore receive an individual rating.
Before the Car Arrives
This was Stynes’ first short film, a slice-of-life drama captured in a single long shot. A family goes through their Sunday morning motions in preparation for one child’s first communion. The film’s ambiguous nature makes it difficult to describe beyond that. This film acts almost like a candid family portrait in motion and is an intriguing film experiment. Those interested in Irish culture and art films will enjoy Before The Car Arrives the most. Recommended ⭐⭐⭐ 1/2
Children’s Allowance
This short court drama is decisive, like audiovisual flash fiction. Mrs. Foley faces a dilemma: Her eldest son was caught burglarizing a car with his friend. Unable to raise the money to pay his bail, Mrs. Foley offers her children’s allowance book as collateral for her son’s release. This is a straightforward court drama, but it’s incredibly well done. The story is clear, and the themes are understandable. There is ambiguity here as well: Is this a simple drama, or is it a devastating tragedy? The viewer gets to decide. Highly Recommended. ⭐⭐⭐⭐1/2
Crime Boss
In this film, Stynes weaves together a short but effective thriller centered on a mother and a drug kingpin. To defend her son’s life, the woman commits a murder and must hide the criminal’s body. The ambiguity and use of experimental time jumps make this short film particularly fun to watch. There’s just enough gore and violence to drive such a plot, making it a must-see for lovers of thrillers and crime drama. Highly Recommended. ⭐⭐⭐⭐1/2
Pigeons
This ambiguous slice-of-life drama plays out in only five minutes. A woman arranges to meet a man for a blind date over the internet. When she arrives at the meeting spot, she sees two men, one tall and conventionally attractive, the other short and disabled. The scene plays out without spoken dialogue. We watch as bystanders, left to pass our own judgment on the woman’s actions. This is a wonderful short piece on ableism in society. Anyone interested in drama or disability justice will want to see Pigeons. Highly Recommended. ⭐⭐⭐⭐
1914 Street
This straightforward period drama uses the frame of an old man reminiscing in a pub. He recalls the desperation that drove him and his neighbors to volunteer for the army at the beginning of World War I and the treatment of the British officers that day. A skillful example of historical fiction, I can’t say much more about this very short film without writing down the whole plot. History lovers especially will want to see 1914 Street. Highly Recommended. ⭐⭐⭐⭐1/2
Whirlpool
This 2018 “kitchen sink drama” is the story of Jimmy, a man with a spinal disability. Because of his stature, he is often mocked and overlooked by those around him. His father is in the early stages of dementia, and to avoid this unpleasant reality, Jimmy attends several martial arts classes a week. In my opinion, this is the best film of the bunch. It’s rare to see such an honest examination of disability and frustration. With Michael Linehan’s help, Stynes creates a compelling slice-of-life drama with an action twist: A must-see for short film fans everywhere. Highly Recommended. Editor’s Choice. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
The Ceased
This dark satire film takes place in a not-too-distant future where euthanasia is big business. A potential client discusses the process with a sales representative of The Ceased LPC. The Ceased is an interesting bit of satire, but perhaps underexplored in this minimalistic format. While the actors put on some outstanding performances, it’s not enough to tell the full story in such a short amount of time. On this one, Stynes’ trademark ambiguity makes general enjoyment a little tougher. Those interested in films exploring euthanasia, however, will want to see The Ceased. Recommended. ⭐⭐⭐1/2
72 Miles
This 60s period drama takes place inside an experimental frame: An old man (or perhaps his ghost) tells us about the time he accepted a ride from a man who had just returned home from earning his fortune abroad. There’s such a charm to this film, I’d much rather ask people to watch it than try to summarize it. Those interested in period pieces, the 60s, or experimental film will be the most interested in watching 72 Miles. Highly Recommended. ⭐⭐⭐⭐1/2
Watching Brian Stynes grow as a director through watching these short films was amazing. Those interested in filmmakers and the filmmaking process will get a lot of educational value from watching these short films as a group. However, each has its own value, making many individual titles from this collection must-haves for different libraries. Highly Recommended. ⭐⭐⭐⭐1/2
Where do these films belong on public library shelves?
The majority of Brian Stynes’ filmography belongs on drama shelves among other short films.
What kind of film series could use these titles?
Any film series about Irish filmmaking or short film could use any of these titles easily.