With an ingenious blend of realism and imagination, five pounds is an inventive short film oozing with truthfulness. This charming low-budget British drama offers a much more modest alternative to an over flamboyant unconvincing film. A film which was directed, written and edited by Samuel Horn, takes us on a larger than life journey around the town of Ipswich. Previously directing the unfolding drama of ‘The Lost Man’, whereby a cross dresser aids the internet to capture his victims, Samuel Horn once again creates a lifelike production through the most innovative eyes.
This down to earth film explores the saying of how one thing can affect another. Samuel horn uses an intelligent dual narrative structure to craft this film from average to inspiring. Gloria turner and Craig Clarke find themselves making decisions which will change another pair’s life forever. When Craig Clarke finds himself waiting for a bus and happily spots that five pound on the ground, he seeks a shop to spend it in. consequently with the money found, Craig buys a drink and Within seconds its gone. His decision to go to the toilet is the decision which alters William Dreyfus’s life permanently. William finds himself beaten to the lavatory by Craig, which of course never would of occurred but without his earlier festivities. Furthermore this puts William in an awkward position of potentially being late for his own bus.
However the ingenious part of it is, whilst this is occurring a separate story is simultaneously happening.
Gloria turner finds herself in the busy shopping town of Ipswich looking flustered until she sees a beggar and naively hands over the contents of her purse. This inevitably turns out being a kind but foolish move, when she walks past a pedestrian smoking. This triggers of her thoughts of having a cigarette, but unfortunately she has none left. Looking in her purse she realises the mistake she has made with the beggar, as she now has no money to buy any cigarettes. Instantly she thinks of a cash point, but just like Craig beating William to the lavatory, Gloria beats Kirsty Cawdell to the cash point. But why is she looking at her watch? What is she late for? It is a cunning climax to an original build up.
Renowned for his woeful decision making in his previous films, Craig Clarke’s outstanding role in this makes it appear like the role was written for him and him only. Additionally without Gloria’s inspiring acting this film could have looked like a cheesy off shoot from a child’s program.
In this triumphant film Samuel horn truly explores the nature of connectivity, where everything you do can be affecting the people around you. Moreover you may not even though you’re doing it, but somewhere, somehow you could be changing another person’s life. Just like in the film, whether your effectively changing there lives for the good or the bad is unknown. A must see drama bound to open your eyes to are interlinked world.
After Reviewing this piece with my teacher and myself, I feel I possibly talk about the plot too much and do not give any constructed criticsm. These things will be sorted out in the near future.
