Charged with repressed tension and emotions, the 2017 short film Janek/Bastard features a powerful narrative that stays in the viewers’ minds long after the final credits have rolled.
The story, told in a flashback by the main protagonist recalling his childhood days in 1942 Poland, provides a poignant window into the harrowing experiences of children living in a time of extreme turmoil and oppression.
A sense of tension gradually builds throughout the film as viewers observe the uneasiness that surrounds the daily life of the family, which has accepted a shy, introverted boy as an extra member. His presence awakens the jealousy of the lead character Krzysztof (portrayed by Jesse Willhite). Close-up shots of his face allow us to understand his emotions and serve as an effective plot device to highlight the story’s intensity.
![Jesse Willhite](https://theskykid.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Jesse-Willhite.jpg)
Poignantly and in an original manner, the film’s director, Muriel Naim, captures the innocence and vulnerability of children in a way that won’t leave anyone indifferent. The aesthetics of the picture bring beauty and naturalistic realism to the story. That is a result of a well-told and well-shot short – as the film is characterized by first-class cinematography, evident from the scenes’ exceptionally well done and very competent lighting.
According to Muriel Naim, her film: “questions the human morals and one’s fear and explores the darkest corners of a boy’s soul.” (1)
Other similarly themed short films are Jochen Alexander Freydank‘s Toyland and Keegan Wilcox‘s Porcelain Unicorn.
- Official site of Janek/Bastard (2017)
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