After a pregnant mother enters a coma after giving birth, an already fragmented family is forced to try to move onward with their lives. As the situation becomes more dire, the family members become more vocal about past grievances and begin to fight to let their feelings be heard.
“Rapuh” review is part of the Submit Your Film Initiative
Ammar Adzim's short film offers up a sincere and tragic look at a family unit struggling with loss. The sense of emptiness takes deep root in previous family difficulties with a stepfather at the head of the family, age differences, miscommunication and varying ways of coping. Consequently, the way that Adzim is able to bring a voice to all these different personas, that feels grounded and believable, acts as the defining draw to the 30 minutes short.
Given the sensitive subject matter, the importance of performances reflecting the situation plays a vital part in execution. Thankfully, each member of the family manages to bring a degree of believability to their performances, giving a strong impression of dedication to trying to understand their roles. This is most apparent in the tactful approach towards arguments among the family, ensuring the subjects' voices and desires are still understood through the boisterous confrontations.
Where the production does begin to show its limitations is within the technical presentation, with muffled audio, dull sets, awkward cuts and blocking/framing that seems slightly off. However, given the narrative strength of the script, these shortcomings limit the commercial appeal rather than deterring from the positives. In contrast, the score leaves a favorable impression, subtly utilized to heighten moments of emotion and closing with an idyllic original song.
“Rapuh” is certainly rough around the edges, revealing limitations in understanding of overall presentation. However, director Ammar Adzim displays a knack for capturing emotion in both narrative approach and direction of the cast, resulting in a well executed ‘tear jerker' that can act as both a relatable and cathartic experience for those who have experienced loss in the family.
