Gone Goodbye by Keith Rivers1

This short film reminded me of Memento. I think it’s the voiceover. Slow, seemingly fighting a struggle but relentless.

The cinematography used here is impressive, more so by the fact that this film was part of a short film competition where the competitors had to finish their film within 100 hours. I think considering that, the aerial footage is stunning. I love the colour correction here, a kind of washed out green grey which is perfectly suited to the atmospheric location.

The narrative does seem a bit wanky and pretensious, which can be forgiven due to the fact that the film had a defined brief it had to comply with for the competition. I noticed this summary in the comments which I think is an adequate explanation of the film’s style:

The balloon is meant to represent part of his own thoughts or conscious. In order to leave this woman he had to separate himself from part of his feelings of attachment, this is why the narrator’s voice changes when he begins to read the note again. His words seems seem unfamiliar and strange because he does in fact love her but some part of him won’t allow himself to be with her. It’s a fairly well told extended metaphor for the inner conflict faced by anyone who has chosen to leave a long term relationship.

All in all, a worthy winner of the Film Racing Grand Prix 2009.

Hat tip to Independent Short Film.