The English Teacher

At first sigh, a simple story, interesting/touching twist , good performances and reasonable end. But , in essence, it is one of films defined by bitterness. One to feel, not define. This is the motif to feel something wrong in its architecture. Not as fault of director, story or actors but as a sort of anxiety from the first scenes to the last one. Short, a bitter short film.

When a script is not tightly written, we get audio props like the trite piano tinkling to set the mood, in this case wistful, to foreshadow a denouement that was fairly obvious from the start. Interestingly, the sunlight, birdsong, and Robert's garden is a remind of Eden lost with the death of his wife; it contrasts with the dark street and rather barren flat of his student Jin, who is grieving in a different way and perhaps more profoundly that he teacher, whose use of idiom ("Keep me posted on your exam results") indicates that the screenwriter Ridder didn't do his homework. It ends unresolved (a suicide?), but the development and two-dimensional characters are too loosely drawn to be redeemed by the excellent photography. Competent, but strangely lacking.

The English Teacher is a gripping short drama directed by Blake Ridder, who also stars in the film alongside Louis James. This award-winning short film delves into themes of guilt, redemption, and the complexities of human relationships, all within a concise yet impactful runtime. The film revolves around Robert Brammel, played by Louis James, an English teacher who offers lessons to Jin, portrayed by Blake Ridder. What begins as a seemingly straightforward language lesson quickly evolves into something much deeper and darker. Through their interactions, the film slowly unravels a shocking revelation about Jin's past and his connection to a tragic event in Robert's life. It is a thought-provoking short film that lingers with you long after the credits roll. It's a testament to how much emotion and narrative depth can be packed into a short format. Fans of drama and psychological thrillers will likely find this film both unsettling and deeply moving.