Blue Violet

Sometimes you come across a film that is not easy to watch. But not for the reasons, you typically think. This is an excellent, well-made and powerful short film but it tackles issues that many of us often turn our head away from. Though it might be a hard film to watch, it is an important one and well-deserving of the many honors it garnered on the festival circuit.

The acting is superb. Kaitlyn Johnston is strong in the lead role of Steph and Jillian Mason really shines as the character Grace - a flighty, hyper young woman with a deep, dark emotional layer that comes out at the end. Most of the film takes place in a small, nearly empty room but yet the cinematography is real, lifelike and gritty. We get a bit of a claustrophobic feel, yet I think that's the feeling the filmmakers are going for.

The ending is a punch to the gut. It surprised me, though I knew something was not as it seemed, and as the film jumps through it's final non-linear narrative, all the pieces come to life. I won't give anything further away, but if you have about 10 minutes of time - watch this film, you'll likely not forget it for anytime soon.