From the directo'rs own synopsis; “Gogu's feelings living with his parents for the past 28 years and still being a (fat) jobless filmmaker”, “Bird on the 27th Floor” is a short single shot film that uses poetry to tell the story of a bird that is being pushed into the real world – whether he likes it or not.
“Bird on the 27th Floor” review is part of the Submit Your Film Initiative
Running a modest 2 and a half minutes, the short passes by in the blink of an eye. Nonetheless, Gogu manages to inject his personality through self parodying and poetic reflection on his own shortcomings. Wanting to head out and conquer the world, the filmmaker speaks on his years of pampering, his laziness and his itchy crotch.
At face value, the film dwells in the idea of an all consuming personal tragedy – suffering from a heavy and a repetitious existence. However, the playful approach and Gogu's humility in making himself the subject gives the work a slightly comedic tone. It is easy to feel a sense of empathy for the dopey filmmaker. There is an undeniable charm in how Gogu presents flaws with an unapologetic openness – you really want to see him ‘conquer the world'.
For a single shot film in an apartment, the production has a complimentary fast paced flow to it that follows the beat of the poetry. From cutting to a screen showcasing a round belly to Gogu waking in bed exclaiming his desire to overcome, the camera runs between shots to tell the brief story through household items. A clever approach that is well executed by cinematographer Laavanya Rajendran, the visuals give the personality needed to make the narrative resonate.
Overall, two minutes and a bit is all it really takes for director Gogu to steal the audience's heart, marking “Bird on the 27th Floor” as a wonderfully charming experience within its brief existence. Thankfully, you can check out the short film in full for yourself – link below.
