Horst in Translation (filmreviews@web.de)
"Voice Over" is a 9.5-minute short film from 4 years ago. The director is Martín Rosete and the writer is Luiso Berdejo, who you may know from the "REC" movie series. The star of the film, however, is Féodor Atkine and he is also the reason why the language is French, even if this is a Spanish production. We see the same man in deadly situations, in which he is about to suffocate, to drown and to bleed to death. It looks like a real life horror movie, almost torture for the audience with these hopeless scenarios. then again, there is the most unexpected plot twist near the end and this does actually become a romance movie. Who would have thought. I sure wouldn't. Probably the parallel drawn here between these situations is slightly absurd and over-the-top, but it was still refreshing how this actually turned into a happy ending. Good watch and I recommend it.
Theo Robertson
A short film linking three separate story lines . I was reminded somewhat of Aronofsky's THE FOUNTAIN a film I didn't like though it was beautiful to look at from a technical viewpoint . VOICE OVER is also another beautiful looking and I wonder how much it cost . Almost certainly one of the more expensive shorts I've watched recently with the underwater scenes in particular stand out . Very good cinematography and very good editing and for the most part my attention was gripped as the three separate stories were intercut with one another . The problem lies in the ending . It's at this point I suppose the audience are gasping " Sacre bleu " and so was I - except not in a complimentary admiring way . It's good for the most part and some people will enjoy the feel good factor to it but seems very much like a cop out of sorts which is a pity
riverwildeuk
Let me just say that this is a beautiful short, a beautiful looking short that is. Three stories connected by a Narrator's voice over, which in itself becomes jarring and exposes an inherent weakness in visual story-telling. The director draws you in from the beginning and the high quality production values are apparent from the start. Coloured and imagined for a very demanding visual audience that wants to be impressed. BUT in essence there is no story and it tries to be too clever then it really is as none of the three stories has visual connections hence all hangs on the captivating narrative voice. In all honesty, the filmmakers are guilty of trying to be too clever forgetting that story is key.
bob the moo
I came to this film with a bit too much hype as it was linked as being the best 10 minutes "evah" in the way sometimes happens and the title of the linking post talking about the great ending, thus putting it out there that the ending would be great, rather than something I just come to. The film is set in several scenarios, all of them featuring the same man racing to achieve something while his heart beats and adrenaline pumps. The reasons for this become clearer as the film goes on, but the ending is not particularly clever or great – good but not more than that.Instead the delivery is what makes the film work, because the scenarios are effective. The film jumping around throws the viewer off guard and shares the sense of urgency. It helps that the segments are really well filmed; whether they are a distant planet, WW1 or underwater, they all look great. The narration works very well too; the French dialogue fits and the voice is well cast and well delivered, adding to the feel of the film a great deal.It ends pretty well but also a bit simply; it is tidy and it has a certain honesty to it but it isn't as smart as it thinks it is. Very well made for sure, but the link doesn't totally work.
AD
