Expend
Expend
Written by Bismark Fernandes | Review by Nora Jaenicke
With the film Expend, director Bismark Fernandes creates a magical, colourful world whose atmosphere is also dark and disturbing. In spite of being a very short film, which is in fact no more than 4 minutes long, it has a strong effect upon the viewer as it deals with an important topic that can no longer be ignored - precisely a man's hunt for elusive power sources. The topics that this well executed film tackles are extremely urgent. The short and carefully depicted story gives them full justice by providing great insight into the human tendency to continuously exploit resources in an endless loop.
We start out following an odd protagonist dressed in a steam punkish style. He is going hunting in an eerie forest and from the very beginning of the film we are wondering what will happen next. What is this mysterious man after? And where will he go? The editing follows a suspenseful pace and the choice of frames is also very accurate and well thought out, reflecting the overall mood of the story. The moment that sees the hunter kill the deer is depicted with a low angle camera showing him in a superior position in comparison to the animal. The power of this little film relies in the few moments that one is left wondering about its plot after it already ended. It invites us to ask ourselves some important questions, and it does so in the most effective way: Without trying to impose a preachy message but by simply showing without telling.
The Set Design and colour palette are superb as they manage to contribute to a unique atmosphere. The carefully crafted sets pull the spectator into an entirely different world, leaving one wanting more... This short could easily be expanded into a longer piece, but perhaps the fact that it is so short contributes to its effectiveness. It is a powerful reminder of man's exploitation of natural resources in order to fulfil his own petty desires.
Nora is currently in post-production of one more short film -Joyce, also a short film version of a feature that she is hoping to make: A mosaic of interrelated stories that explore the American Dream and the plight of immigrants in New York City. She is an avid traveler, continuing to explore the world and telling stories about it, whenever she gets a chance. 
Nora is currently in post-production of one more short film -Joyce, also a short film version of a feature that she is hoping to make: A mosaic of interrelated stories that explore the American Dream and the plight of immigrants in New York City. She is an avid traveler, continuing to explore the world and telling stories about it, whenever she gets a chance.
