Crazy8’s has been organizing 8-day filmmaking challenges since 1999. Those filmmakers selected after a successful pitch are given 8 days to produce a short. On 20April2024 all 6 selected finalists present their short in Vancouver followed by a gala evening.
Death literally stares you in the face as the film opens. There has been a death and in a memorial service Kevin (Max Archibald), a shy 15-year-old, is asked to come to front to address the mourners and say a few words about the deceased. He is too distraught to speak. Then the story is told through Kevin’s eyes.
Kevin’s friend and fellow student at a private Catholic school, Jansen (Justice Gin), unexpectedly disappears without warning or notice. Kevin, in a meeting with the principal, is told Jansen has gone abroad to study due his poor grades. Neither Kevin or his baseball team pals feel comfortable with this explanation and they dig and with some parental assistance a shocking truth is uncovered. On the way to the revelation of truth many themes in this 18-minute short are skillfully laid out but never judged leaving that up to the viewer. Amongst some are hypocrisy of the Catholic church, treating adolescents like infants, deception, mystery, grief and guilt and if you are the ball and follow the breadcrumb clues dropped throughout the short the unmentionable.
Directed by Kevin Ang.
RKS 2024 Film Rating: 91/100.
Set the Bar 