Films

Solitude
United Kingdom 2015
Director: Jordan Crichlow
With Brandon Townsend,
Shannon Irving
Certificate 15
Whilst this short film is Jordan
Crichlow?s second in his short, niche
film career it marks the acting debuts of
two South-London inhabitants,
17-year-old Brandon Townsend (Young
Man), and 18-year-old Shannon Irving
(Young Woman), the iron-clad couple
who come together to provide the
ultimate chemistry needed to tell
Crichlow's story. Said director reveals
to us that he grew up with these two
young adults, attending secondary
school with them and becoming
personal friends. The entrustment of
these two people was not taken lightly
by Crichlow, due to the expression
?first impressions are lasting
impressions? very prominent during the
analysis of a director?s first film; it
shows what kind of approach the
director takes to film, and how well
they can convince their actors to play
their part well, just to name some of the
characteristics that are heavily
examined.
When we are first introduced to "Young

"The lonely protagonist"

SYNOPSIS Wallington, Surrey. Outside, daytime, present day. A 17-year-old young man is filming the
streams and trees of Grove Park, through the lens of his camera. Quietly and humbly, he admires his work.
Suddenly, a face comes into view of his camera. It is that of an 18-year-old young woman, who sits alone by
the riverside, cuddling herself tightly against the wind. The young man, out of view, admires his new
acquaintance, and films her.
The young woman takes out a bottle of beer, and some tablets, surprising the young man. She gulps down
two tablets, with the help of her beer, which leads her to stand up, and walk towards the stream. Her feet
go under the water, and she continues to walk forwards. Meanwhile, the young man is in a state of panic;
finding out his phone is out of range, and seeing nobody else in sight, he screams at the young woman.
These actions, in turn, startles the young man more so than the young woman, and finds the young
woman directing him to enter the stream. He hesitantly does so, and exchanges a kiss with the young
woman, much to his surprise. The young woman winks at the screen, as the young man's camera turns off.

Man" (Brandon Townsend), we

are greeted by the silent rustling
of trees, and the gentle rhythm
of the flowing stream. Already,
we see Townsend plays his part
well, keeping soundless in
comparison with the already
peaceful environment. We are
kept from seeing his face fully,
having to watch the slow
movements of his hands and
eyes, as he examines the
environment through a stable
positioned camera. As we begin
to become relaxed and enjoy the
artwork of the young man, the
Young Woman (Shannon Irving)
disrupts the privacy, by exposing
herself in Young Man?s camera
frame. Young Man, however, in
contrast to the disruption he
should surely feel, becomes
intimately interested with this
new specimen he has found in
his camera frame, and eagerly
examines her through the lens.
Crichlow mostly avoids the
obvious, through his compelling
storyline, and drastically
changing scenes. One minute,
the Young Man is filming the
peacefulness of the river, and
the next (after an intriguing sign
of alcohol and drug abuse), the
Young Woman is violating the
river with her contaminated feet!
It is Crichlow?s ambitiousness as
a young new director that shows
his desire to deviate from the
social norms, and also
jeopardising his actor?s
wellbeing; having young Irving

stand in a river for god knows

Michael Brooks
how long, whatever method he
Credits
used in doing so.
Produced
Visual
Jordan Crichlow?s newest
by
Effects
short does indeed remind us of
his first project Truant (2014). It Jordan
Jordan
revisits the scene style and
Crichlow
Crichlow
genre of Social Realism, which
Jules
Ben Phillips
shows his commitment to said
Becker
film genre. Truant received a
Art
number of the most promising Written by Directors
young directors coming into the
Jordan
Jordan
business. The title itself,
Crichlow
Crichlow
Solitude, is similar to Truant, as
they are both short, yet have a Film Editor Jack Taylor
powerful meaning; plus, they
Jordan
Liam
both refer to their respective
Crichlow
Somerscale
storylines; Truant sees a
Lee
middle-aged teenager
Cast
Cheeseman
influenced by his peers to
Brandon
deviate from the norms of
Production Townsend
school, whilst Solitude sees a
Designer
YOUNG
young man attempt to establish
MAN
a connection between himself Jules
Becker
and a young woman, in his path
Shannon
to manhood.
Becky Snell Irving
Whilst every film has its flaws,
Props
YOUNG
the question must be asked;
Master
WOMAN
what can Crichlow do to
Dolby
improve after this? His arsenal Jordan
Digital
of cinematography angles and Fincham
shots must vastly improve,
Rohit
In Colour
whilst his ability to make his
Tahme
[2.35:1]
actors feel their way into their
Casting
role - in his defence it may be
Distributor
down to the already
Jordan
Beacon
established connection with
Crichlow
Studios
said actors - is questionable.
Jules
But remember, 17 is a young
204 ft + 3
Becker
age to create your first short.
frames
Credit to the young man and
Jordan
good luck to him.
Kent