A young girl heads to the beach to contemplate her place in life and try to work through some heavy emotions. When her sister comes to meet her, the two have a conversation which reveals a deep sadness, and the siblings begin to try to rationalize the pain felt. At the utterance of “this is your second chance”, the world the girl has crafted in her sorrow comes tumbling down.
“Ma'un” review is part of the Submit Your Film Initiative
“Ma'un” is an experience that largely dwells in melancholia, through both dialogue and visuals, while also speaking to the strength of the human spirit to overcome trauma. Focused on ruminations of low self-esteem that leads to overwhelming feelings of being despised, Hari Ahmad directs the viewer through an ethereal landscape into a message of resonating positivism – an impressive transition within a short run-time.
As a visual/audio experience, “Ma'un” starts in a grim black and white pallet that stands in contrast of the beauty of the endless ocean. However, this color scheme represents an alternative reality of sorts – brought to fruition through the internal strife of the protagonist. The color scheme plays a major role in the narrative, with the eventual transition into vibrant colors representing an emotional transformation from sorrow to peace. In addition, the lack of score in favor of the sound of waves hitting the shore creates a sense of isolation that aptly reflects the girls' withdrawal – furthering the sense of melancholy in the monochrome portion. The production, undeniably, flows between somber and beauty to express the profundity of its message.
Casting real siblings, Rachel Avit as Rachel and Hazel Avit as Hazel, works in favor of the production by evoking a sense of sincerity in their interactions. Tackling mental health issues with someone who appears to be just hitting their teens, can make for a sensitive and uncomfortable subject matter, yet the two approach it with the grace that is needed to make the story believable – the inexperience in acting is compensated by the familial connection.
Overall, “Ma'un” favors the viewer going in with as little information as possible – every moment key in building to the final revelation. No aspect of the production falls short or feels stilted, Hari Ahmad proves himself to be a notable talent in the short film format.
