This beautifully haunting and relatable short film has plenty to say about loneliness and fear of letting new people into our lives.
Heartbreaking and relatable to watch, Alex Lawther’s (who wrote and directed) Rhoda really manages to pack a punch emotionally in the space of this 18 minute film – with two subtle and impressively controlled performances at its centre.
The story centres on Rhoda, someone who is used to living alone and being alone until the arrival of Louis as a lodger threatens to uproot her life and of course force her to confront the fears that she has about the world outdoors.
What sprung to mind while watching is how relatable the themes and emotions are particularly in the wake of COVID which surely rose some people’s fears on venturing out and getting back to ‘normality’. But it also reveals what happens when we confront our fears and the emotions that it brings up.
Sharply focused, Alex Lawther’s film is beautifully framed in every shot that it is impossible not to feel every emotion that is expressed and as it reaches a climax the intensity of these feelings of loneliness and isolation. This is particularly highlighted through Juliet Stevenson’s sympathetic performance that is by turns captivating and heartbreaking to watch as we witness her struggle to deal with the changes in her life – which is relatable to anyone who has had to cope with an unexpected change both emotionally and socially.
In turn, Emma D’Arcy as Louis gives a calm and collected performance, with a hint of rebellion (i.e the party she throws to get back at Rhoda for breaking her model house) that really helps to drive the story forward.
The sparse use of dialogue as well enables the audience to really get a chance to know the characters not through what they say but how they act, the little details and mannerisms which in this case feels more authentic in showcasing the contrast in personalities – that by the end actually shows how each do have something in common.
Rhoda is a short film that forces all of us to confront how we feel about interacting with other people and trying to let go of the fear of letting a new person into our lives. It is a beautiful and enriching experience – I just wish we had longer to get to know each character better.
By Emma Clarendon
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐