Synopsis:
When introvert, Aaron, finds himself struggling under the weight of a revelation, he dreams of escaping to the only place he can breathe. But escape has a cost, and he must ask himself if it is a price he is willing to pay.
Review by Andie Karvelis
How wonderful would it be to live in a world where we are accepting of each other’s differences. A world where we don’t judge someone by the way they look, what their interests are or how they speak. A world where empathy and compassion come first…but that’s not the world we live in, is it?
Writers; Richard Bazley, Neil Bason, and Connor Wulfric have brilliantly crafted Censure. From the moment this film opens it captures your attention with a lone figure walking through a tunnel alongside a calm creek. There is such a haunting sadness about that very first black and white shot that it leaves you spellbound. I’m a sucker for a good black and white film, and Director of Photography, John E. Fry delivers an exquisite one. John understands how to make black and white absolutely sing with depth, tone, and contrast.
I’m also a sucker for clever film making, and I got exactly that with Censure. That lone figure walking through the tunnel? That’s our protagonist, Aaron, who is portrayed by Connor Wulfric. Connor’s performance is absolutely exceptional, he is able to create such nuances with Aaron’s personality that you can’t help but have empathy for him. You genuinely like the guy!
Director Richard Bazley did a wonderful job keeping every aspect very believable. Personally, I loved how we don’t see the rest of Aaron’s family, we only hear them ( until the very end ). It conveys just how alone Aaron really is, his home which is supposed to be a safe haven is really a psychological and emotional hell. Tom Conti, Vivien Taylor, and Elaine M. Ellis all do an incredible job as Aaron’s abusive family members.
The raw emotion in this film is heightened by an incredible score provided by Adrian Chivers and Noise in Your Eye. Ingeniously the filmmakers reveal the “how it happened” after we see the twist ending. You can’t help but be in a moral quandary at the end because you still genuinely like the guy!
Obviously, I am very long winded about Censure but only because it’s THAT good. It’s the kind of film that makes you wonder what you would have done in Aaron’s place. It also inspires you to be a more compassionate person and consider how our words and actions affect those around us. Thank you Richard, Neil, and Connor for that reminder and for a brilliant short film!
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