Written and directed by Bertie Gilbert, “Let It Be” is an independent, small budget short film that explores the themes of death, loss and love. The title is derivative from the song of the same name by The Beatles, a band that is mentioned throughout the narrative in a way that reveals information about two of the main protagonists, Carl and Martha. It is also interesting to note that it symbolises the metaphor that is explored throughout the film: let death be; it will come to us all, so just “let it be”.
Throughout the film, there is a considerable use of foreshadowing in various scenes. For example, in the opening scene, there is a camera close-up that looks into the barrel of a gun which is symbolic of death and foreshadows the future death related references throughout the film.
Likewise, the boxes within the second scene also foreshadow the later revelation of Martha and Carl’s breakup. Another interesting aspect of this scene is the use of colour within the mise en scene; Death’s black attire strongly juxtapose her colourful surroundings, symbolising the fact that she does not belong there.
The scene in which Death is playing the popular game “Operation” also foreshadows Martha’s illness.
Throughout the film, the mise en scene and the costume are used to juxtapose Death, and her symbolism, with the other characters and surroundings. This is most successfully achieved through Death’s costume: the, almost entirely, black clothes, hair and makeup connote death and suggest that she is a negative character, although the narrative explores her emotions and how she feels trapped and forced into this role.
However, her surroundings, as well as the other protagonist’s costume, are colourful, connoting entirely different emotions; happiness and joy.
Other symbolism, in terms of cinematography, also include the smoke and mist throughout the opening scene which resembles and reflects the confusion of what is happening; from the point of view of the two protagonists and also the audience.
The film is a coming of age drama which was released solely online, rather than into the traditional film market and into cinemas. The audience for coming of age dramas is generally teenagers and young adults and so it makes sense for the short to be released onto a platform that is also marketed towards the same audience; YouTube.
Whilst this is still a British film, it is somewhat different to the other british films that I have studied, for example Fish Tank (2009) or The Selfish Giant (2013) since it there is no emphasis on it being set in a working class region and, in fact, it is likely, from the costume and dialect of the actors, that is not set in a working class region at all. However, it is interesting to note that there are still elements of crime discussed and explored throughout the narrative.
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