Life is full of scary and intimidating things that fill us with fear.
Whether fragments of our imagination or actual dangers lurking in the shadows, these fears weigh us down and often consume us. Directed by Ruth Beni and Daniel Greaves, the appropriately titled “All Of Our Shadows” is an animated film that explores this idea briefly but effectively.
The seven-minute short film begins with a conversation between presenters on a radio broadcast. They are discussing climate change and the threats it poses when a young boy calls and says he’s scared to go to school. When asked why, the boy replies that it is because he has witnessed two crimes that have left him scared.
The boy is so frightened and anxious that he runs the whole way from home to school in a bid to escape the fears tormenting his mind. His terror is so acute that he feels like a ghoulish shadow is following him around. However, his fears are slightly alleviated when his classmates open up about their personal anguish ranging from insecurities and fear of failure to anxiety and self-doubt.
Despite its short run time, “All Of Our Shadows” is effective in communicating its core message strongly due to the ingenuity of its visual conception. Besides the stellar editing and seamless transition of scenes, there are various highly creative sections that intrigue and captivate the viewer. One particular instance is where crumpled pieces of paper are unwrapped and kids jump out and cathartically start speaking out their feelings.
All in all, “All Of Our Shadows” bears a timely and vital message for young people on mental health and how to deal with their fears and anxieties.
As such, it is a film that despite its brevity manages to achieve two objectives successfully; to be informative and highly entertaining.
