Mirage

Mirage is a short film about an Inuit boy who reaches unexpected waters while fishing in the Arctic wilderness. It was created by Iker Maidagan (Spain) and Dana Terrace (US) during their studies at the School of Visual Arts in New York. It offers an engaging 9-minute narrative featuring five characters (two of them used as narrative devices), an external conflict and a conflict with the environment.

Staged in two natural environments (the arctic at night time and the sea close to the Bahamas at daytime), with iconography related to fishing and the sea, Mirage places special emphasis on the use of an object (the shell), associating it with magic, along with its related idol statue. Elements of surprise abound, incorporating creative twists to the story and frequent use of contrasts. The shell and its effects become a source of conflict. Camera movement, increased visual rhythm within the frame and use of close-ups (to capture facial expressions) complement the dramatic buildup, together with sound. Interestingly enough, camera rolls, pans and zooms are used in a creative way, turning directions upside down to transmit the magical effects of the shell and the link between the two locations.

Also worth noting in Mirage are the nice use of split screen, parallel editing and the way the film employs and plays with an established cultural theme (the Bermuda Triangle). Creativity, surprise, humor, action sequences, supernatural elements and frequent contrasts help make for a great short film.