Editor Jules, Caribbean Head Writer
Plot: A young woman working at a telephone helpline counsels a suicidal woman.
Context: Lifeline is a soon-to-be released Trinidad and Tobago short film written and directed by first time filmmaker Timothy Joseph. It is a production of Trini-Media Films in association with Alliance Française Trinidad and Tobago. The film stars Jay-Anne Thomas (Island Law, Batchack Man) as Selene, a 20-year-old helpline worker, and social media influencer Chrisal Martin as Natasha, a distraught woman who calls the helpline. The film is scheduled to be featured at US festival First-Time Filmmakers Sessions.
Review: For a first time film Lifeline is very well done. Thomas is solid if at times stiff as Selene, and Martin is quite good, delivering a believable character and avoiding the temptation to dive into melodrama. The rest of the cast (all first time actors) don’t have much to do but they do their jobs. On the plot, the film could have easily gone full PSA but there are twists and turns that make it intriguing. And I was genuinely interested to hear Natasha’s story.
Many of the crew were first timers as well, but you wouldn’t be able to tell by the pretty decent production quality. The gorgeous drone shots of the Port of Spain cityscape and the fantastic music of Christoper Moe Ditlevsen and Silver Maple were most pleasurable on the eyes and ears respectively. There are instances of rough sound editing but only a few. With solid production and performances, especially for a mostly untested cast and crew, I enjoyed Lifeline and I would recommend it.
Editor Jules’s Score: 6.5 out of 10
If you or someone you know is having suicidal thoughts please call a suicide hotline in your country. You can find a number by clicking here.
Julien “Editor Jules” Neaves is a TARDIS-flying, Force-using Trekkie whose bedroom stories were by Freddy Krueger, learned to be a superhero from Marvel, but dreams of being Batman. I love promoting Caribbean film (Cariwood), creating board games and I am an aspiring author. I say things like “12 flavours of awesome sauce”. Read more.
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