Ana’s Playground
Starring: Raven Bellefleur, Noah Kol Balfour, Immonuel Grace, Reike Hall and Alaina Lucy Rivera
Genre: Short, Drama, War
Writer/Director: Eric D. Howell
Set amidst an unknown war torn country, a small group of children playing Soccer lose their ball over the fence, Ana is chosen to retrieve it, and unwillingly enters into a game of cat and mouse with an anonymous sniper.
In its short time frame you are quickly thrust into Ana’s (Raven Bellefleur) quest to reclaim the ball that symbolizes her childhood, when she finally reaches the ball a brief moment of respect is shown before you truly realize how war can change a child.
The moment that you are aware of the sniper was fantastic. The tension created by what seems like a completely hopeless quest is riveting. Given the lack of dialog and the story being expressed entirely from expressions, Everything hinges on the tiny shoulders of Newcomer Raven Belleflour and she pulls it off amazingly well (I expect a strong future for her)
One of the most powerful and compelling shorts I have ever seen, the innocence of children being lost amidst war is a very sobering message
