Lisa responds to a newspaper advert to meet Sarah in a hotel room for a night. They meet and have a wonderful night that sadly uncovers that one was badly abused and the other is currently suffering serious mental and physical bullying from a partner. Will this allow them to bond? What will they do?

Review by Andie Karvelis:

Ever hear the expression “Don’t judge a book by its cover”? That applies to this film, except maybe we should say “Don’t judge a film by its title”. An Advert for One Night begins with a deceptively simple concept that soon propels you into a much deeper and emotional story. Graham Birch wrote and directed this short film about Lisa answering Sarah’s advert in the newspaper and the bond that forms between them. This unfolds beautifully and answers the viewers immediate questions about the film’s premise. Director of Photography, Ross Yeandle did a wonderful job and was incredibly smart with the lighting. I loved the lighting change to let us know that both our leads were attracted to each other. Plus the music choices the filmmakers picked were spot on.

Valery Danko and Alina Tamara portrayed Lisa and Sarah and they had a lovely rapport on screen together. I believed they were attracted to one another, and when they shared the personal trauma they’d been through, it felt real to me. Their playful banter during the montage section was really well done, I wish there was more of that prior to the discovery of the trauma each had been through.

To tell this powerful and moving story in just 15 minutes felt a little rushed. I wanted it to be longer because it is such an impactful film that tugs on your heartstrings. All in all, Graham Birch and his team created a wonderful film that leaves you feeling hopeful.