Òran na h-Eala

Òran na h-Eala (2022) is a film that explores Moira Shearer's decision to star in the cult classic The Red Shoes (1948) and how her life was affected by it. Overall this was a very powerful and insightful short. I was incredibly impressed and thorough engaged!

The cinematography was beautiful with some really strong colour palettes; every shot was impressive! The lighting was soft and dreamlike and it felt very unique. The framing choices were intriguing too and felt super artistic, along with the hypnotic camerawork, this made the short consistently pleasing to the eye!

I loved the music used in the short too! The songs and lyrics helped tell a story and develop the character even further, I've found myself listening to the songs used quite a bit!

The acting was flawless from everyone who took part, and the performances portray a lot of emotion! Shannon Davidson was a brilliant and talented fit for her role and had me captivated throughout. Also, the dialogue was well written too which helped alongside the great performances.

Lastly the story is clear and easy to follow along with. The pacing is very consistent and steady, meaning the short flowed well and didn't feel too short or too long.

The acting was flawless in this short film with lots of emotions that had me deeply invested into every word she spoke. I'm glad they got the right actress for this, it's some big shoes to fill and she deserves awards just for this performance alone. The story is easy to follow along if you have no idea about Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger's, The Red Shoes thankfully you can still understand what's happening but it's still neat to watch The Red Shoes either before or after this film to really appreciate it all. I'm so impressed and loved everything this short film. From the soundtrack, props and to the ending. Such detail, such love put into this film. I'm inspired.

I have to say Steve Exeter did an exceptional job making this. If you're a fanatic of the movie "The Red Shoes" like I am then this is a must watch. Shannon Davidson's performance just blew me away right from the start from her confidence to her perfectly done makeup - just like Moira Shearer. Nothing was rushed from the looks of it, the editing, sound and the dialogue. Spot on! This is indeed award winning, I hope they get more eyeballs on this short film.

This film comes incredibly close to perfection. The main lead's performance as Moira Shearer was stunning. The meticulous attention to detail in aligning this film with The Red Shoes deserves its own award. The color grading and soundtrack added another layer, making this short film feel almost like a feature-length production. However, I felt that some scenes could have benefited from tighter editing to maintain a more consistent pacing.

I do wish for a continuation with the same actors and director; maybe we'll see one this year. For the rating, I'm giving this a solid 9. Everything was almost perfect, making it a real treat to watch. This is a homage to one of the greatest films ever made, and even if you're unfamiliar with The Red Shoes, this is still a fantastic film to dive into.

"The Red Shoes", an English classic from 1948, has endured as an unforgettable film for several decades since its release. Directors, Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger made a film star out of the ever-gorgeous Moira Shearer, an up-and-coming Ballerina of the time. Her casting made perfect sense because their protagonist was also an aspiring Prima Ballerina. Moira was their ideal fit to the point of obsession. They pursued her for over a year before she finally agreed to accept the part.

The short film is just under 15 minutes long, yet it manages to touch our hearts by echoing the atmosphere of the role of Vicky Page and comparing it expressionistically to the very woman who brought her to life on the screen. Playing that pivotal role of Moira Shearer is Shannon Davidson, who seems to embody the character totally.

The use of mirror shots allows the audience to share her memories, reflecting on each moment with her. The theatrical lighting and stylized cinematography add to the dreamlike quality of the piece, achieving an authentic period look reminiscent of the original three strip Technicolor film.

"The Red Shoes" was a huge success at the time and went on to win Oscars, but Moira's struggle to choose between her passion for the world of ballet or the allure of cinema stardom, is what propels writer / director Steve Exeter's "Òran na h-Eala" making it one of the most vital short films of 2022.