Balcony (I) (2015) User Reviews

Shows decent promise early on, but eventually just too stereotypical and unrealistically in your face

[Horst_In_Translation · 4/10 · 13 April 2019]

"Balcony" is a British 17-minute live action short film from 2015, so this one will soon have its 5th anniversary. The writer and director is Toby Fell-Holden and chances are you have never heard of him and not of any of the cast members in here either. But this is the case for many films and they can still be very good. This one here not so much. I must say I liked the introduction, the "first meeting" moment with the other girl on the balcony was executed nicely as well and the two protagonists had okay (not great) chemistry taht led me to believe their story. But when the film(maker) lost it-/himself more and more in baity moments to attract the utmost attention, the film got worse by the minute. And that wasn't even necessary because the core plot, a homosexual story line involving relgion to some extent, is already utter awards bait. So I am not surprised to see this film receive a great deal of recognition all over the globe. Was kinda expected awards bodies would really be sucked in by this one if it is not a complete failure. And it is not. Not even close. But it is at least as far away from being a quality movie in my opinion because the level from early on could not be achieved throughout the entire film. It is a bit of a pity as everything about the background kinda works, also how the film is set in a poorer area in England that has bleakness and prejudice attached to it all around. The worst moment is probably the biggest moment, namely what happens when the two girls meet up on the balcony that started their relationship. The fact that the main character is still seeing other guys, also sexually, even if most uninspired, was also something they could have left out. I think it was supposed to emphasize how the one she really cares about is the other girl, but well somehow it was not working. And still the bleakness and hopelessness (and violence) of it all result in her not being hurt at all (or at least not able to show it) when tragedy strikes in a horrible accident. But by then the film is all over the place already and lacks focus and realism. I give it a thumbs-down as a whole. It is better than most gay-themed short films out there, some of which are really horrible, but not good enough for a positive recommendation. Quite a pity as during several moments you could absolutely see the potential is there for a good (if not great) short film, maybe even full feature film. What a missed opportunity.

A waste of time

[cadehanan · 1/10 · 27 December 2019]

The prétention and pandering of this short film to agenda is not its undoing, but rather the painful direction, bordering on bigoted stereotyping of characters to fit the writer's white saviour complex/agenda, and the jarring dialogue and acting, which make the agenda squarely on the nose. Unsophisticated and not subtle in the slightest. One out of ten is the best this film deserves. Try harder.