A couple set out on a camping trip with one last attempt at reuniting their lost love. Inspired by Led Zeppelin’s “Since I’ve Been Loving You.
This week we decided to run off into the wild with a short about a couple trying to reignite their relationship with a camping trip. We soon realize that the relationship between the two is at an unstable and awkward moment.
Director Kenneth Bauer brings us into the woods with the intent to bring us closer to the main characters Morgan and Rachael in a realistic manner. Being away from any distractions and just the calm sound of burning wood, we quickly get to know the characters intimately. Kenneth successfully places us in an uneasy environment between the two, where trying to reconcile things just seems to not be enough. Morgan begins to accept the fact that what he once had with Rachael is only a cherished memory.
The film is slow paced with little crescendo and no unexpected twists, but it does not leave you uninterested by any means. The simplistic style, location and photography give the film a most natural feel. Filmed on 16mm, the graininess combined with handheld camera techniques states the impression of watching a 1980’s documentary, which helps with the director’s intent to accentuate intimacy to the characters. To add to the simple imagery were wonderful snowflakes that just wonderfully contributed to the entire calmness of the film. According to director Kenneth Bauer the snow at the beginning of the film was a happy accident, “The script was originally written for a summer camping trip. However, due to the time restraints, I ended up shooting in very cold weather for the first couple days.”.
The story demanded a very emotional performance by the actors, which started awkwardly with their first shots together, in consequence making the scene feel a little scripted. But they unquestionably picked it up as the scenes get more personal and emotional, especially on their simultaneous individual rendition of Led Zeppelin‘s ‘Since I’ve Been Loving You‘, song which the film is inspired on.
The choice of the musical soundtrack created by Jay Harris and Robert Johnston scored the mood perfectly, but an uncharacteristic moment occurs after the first track noticeably fades away at a strong visual moment, leaving the viewers slightly confused. Thankfully we are quickly sunk back in to forget the moment with the eery sound of the wilderness.
Don’t let these minor critiques stop you from watching the film, they do not by any means diminish the effort and beauty of the film. In a way it emphasizes the simplicity and the importance of character development building throughout the short.
Make sure to follow Kenneth Bauer to find out more on his upcoming project, Swampland:
