This short film was made as part of the writer/director doing some coaching time at an overnight camp for young actors, or something like that – I am very far from that world, so maybe I do it a disservice. The focus of the film is on the titular actress, who talks us through the things creative people can do when they are lacking in inspiration.
The result is a short film that does feel like a bit of a camp project for those involved, but at the same time still has enough about it to be amusing. The structure of the film, as well as some elements of the visual and musical design, owe a debt to Wes Anderson – it works, but there is a part of me that sighs when I see yet another short film trying to 'do' Wes Anderson. The specific chapters of the film are amusing if never really funny, but it has such a cheerful charm to it that it is hard not to like. As with many films from Kuang, she works with children who are really close to that line of becoming precocious and/or annoying but do not tip across the line. I am sure for some they will be over that line, but I think they are well used and the film's tone supports them.
The interesting thing about Belinda as a piece of work is to view in the context of the other throwaway short that Kuang made in 2015 – Meet the Artist. That one was interesting for comically presenting some quite dark thoughts and self-doubts about the creative psyche, and it sits well with Belinda's much more positive approach to dealing with some of the same things. Still, Belinda is a whimsy of a short and I am sure it was made as such – but for those that like Kuang's work, all her usual strengths are in here and can be enjoyed.
