Drawing on her own childhood experience of arriving in the UK as an asylum seeker, Eno Enefiok‘s short film is powerful as it is bleak.
Following the story of Hope and her two children who arrive in London 10 days before the millennium, Eno Enefiok’s short stop motion film is both powerful and heartbreaking. The images that the filmmaker has created here are so memorable that it creates a strong impact on the viewer.
But while the way in which the story unfolds to a chilling conclusion, as Hope’s story turns from looking for safety to one of resilience and survival, is bold and holds nothing back emotionally it can also feel a little bit stilted in terms of the movement and flow of the story.
Running at just 16 minutes long, Hope is Lost gets right to the heart of the story cleanly and effectively as the family is introduced to a stranger who is not what he appears. There is menace and fear, but also a mother’s willingness to do anything for her children to protect them no matter the cost.
But it also highlights the flaws in our system in the UK in terms of processing asylum seeker claims – a story that seems even more pertinent given everything that is going on in the news at the moment.
The animation might seem a little rough around the edges, but considering that this is because it has been built almost entirely from recycled materials it makes it seem more authentic and real. The only thing I would say is that it would have been lovely get more of a sense of the character’s emotions visually.
The use of music and the way in which the characters have been voiced add extra depth to the story, deepening our empathy for the family at the centre of it all as well as reminding us that there are plenty of other stories exactly like this one out in the world.
Overall, Hope is Lost is an immensely powerful short film that leaves a real impression on the viewer. It has a strong emotional drive to it that makes it a compelling watch.
By Emma Clarendon
Rating: ❤️❤️❤️❤️