They say all good things come in small packages. That must be why Lauren Heslop’s must-see short film has hit the ground running with its bitterly truthful take on the taboo topic which people often turn a blind eye to-bullying. From its relatable characters to sincere sentiments, is it any wonder that her directorial debut is still ‘hanging on’ to our heart strings?
Suffering with depression is unbelievably severe and saddening, even with a support system surrounding you. Imagine how difficult it is for 16-year-old Sophie Rein, who is struggling to face the unwavering distress caused by her ruthless bully, Emily Redding. Hanging On tracks her lonely struggle down a dark, dismal path of despair until she finds the ultimate escape from her cruel world. After her suicide, Sophie gets to relive her final day, where one kind act could save her life. The film empathetically portrays the importance of acting against bullying when you see it; one day later could be too late.
“I wanted to create something with meaning, with the potential to help, to change, to improve” (stresses Heslop). And with 1.5 million young people having been bullied in the UK during the past year alone, we say she is doing just that. The short already has over 1 million views on YouTube, not to mention it trending on both Facebook and Twitter as well as receiving Best Drama at the Aesthetica Film Festival 2017, Best Director and Best Actress in the Creative England Showcase at the Kinofilm Festival in the same year. “The time for action is now!” (declares Heslop). “It is all too common in modern society. Today we start building a safe tomorrow for future generations. The only way we can do this is through freedom of expression. My aim from this short film was not money, success or fame, but to encourage others to create and achieve in combat against inequality.
Empire asked Heslop just what inspired her to create such a beautiful, moving piece. She humbly states, “Well the real beauty of the story is the brutal truth. There was no script, no fake scenes; everything was taken from the personal experiences brought forward. I saw the opportunity to educate young people, parents and teachers about the importance of speaking out when being bullied and how stepping in is essential to prevent the circumstances outlined in this honest representation of real life."
The Empire Verdict (what we said) first look
Hanging On is an emotional, honest and dramatic representation of real life situations which too many people suffer with silently. This thought-provoking masterpiece tracks the deteriorating health of Sophie Rein, played by Isobel Baxter, as she attempts to combat her struggles with depression due to the relentless torment by her bully, Emily Redding, played by Ellie Allport. Being an ordinary teenage girl comes with its own difficulties, but for Sophie life has become unbearable. When her prayers go unanswered, she is engulfed by her misery, which leads her to commit suicide. But with one chance to relive her final day, could she finally get the helping hand she has been craving?
Compactly structured, this short film focuses on the two main characters, further emphasising its confrontational nature. The depth in understanding shown in only five minutes is unparalleled in others of its kind. Symbolic of the main message portrayed throughout Hanging On, the impressive demonstration of the butterfly effect brings to light that one kind act could save somebody’s life.
The opening sequence shows Sophie Rein waking up to begin her normal day, but when she reaches school her day is anything but normal. The bullying is introduced within the first few seconds, successfully setting the sinister tone of the piece. Here we see the physical abuse begin. Surprisingly, this is not only shown from the point of view of our protagonist, but also the bully. I feel that this added much more depth to the film; anybody can show a bully in a bad light, but to force the audience to put themselves in their shoes addresses the commonly missed issue that there are so many reasons for bullying and this could also be a cry for help. In fact, in our exclusive interview with Heslop, she admitted that she would have explored this in much more detail if she were creating a feature film. We were even let into some insider information-Emily Redding is only bullying Sophie Rein because she is jealous; she has a horrible family life and her mean girl façade is a front to numb herself against the heartbreak. As time passes (cleverly shown through subtitles as well as how filming was spread over the different seasons) we can see Sophie’s struggles with depression and in the deafening silence of her problems, she eventually commits suicide. This was shown very tastefully; as this film is primarily educational, it was important for Heslop that this was not about giving sufferers any ideas, but to encourage passers by to act out. When she gets the chance to relive her last day, could one ally be in the right place at the right time?
Making her breakthrough into the short film industry, Hanging On is the best we have seen in a long time; Heslop focused on the purpose of her product. Whilst cinematography and lighting are important in any piece, she did not let these overshadow the educational themes. Her naturalistic approach to the production resulted in a moving, relatable story addressing the key issues which are lacking in most educational shorts. Heslop was not only director but producer, wardrobe mistress, cinematographer and editor. Despite having all of that to balance, her casting was impeccable. Isobel Baxter, who plays Sophie Rein, brings truth and inspiration to the character. Acting in a silent film is challenging enough, but I felt that the majority of her acting came from the eyes, which Heslop focused on through extreme close-ups. This is emphasised further due to breaking the fourth wall. When Sophie was looking right at me before her suicide, I felt so helpless, just as she did. The actor who played the bully, Ellie Allport, was also extremely successful in her representation of the character and it was clear that the two worked very well together. Both the physique and talent of the actors shaped the film as a wonderful piece of cinema.
You could take my word for it, and leave it at that, but I strongly urge you to watch this film for yourself. Whether you are young or old, watch Hanging On to learn more about the subject which we all claim to know everything about already. OUT NOW!
