The success of “Stranger Things” has sent ripples around the world, with a number of artists trying to recreate the combination of horror and children/teenage aesthetic that made the series so appealing. Bayu Prihantoro Filemon also tries the same with “Vania on Lima Street”, in a short though, that moves into a completely different path.
Vania on Lima Street is screening at Busan International Film Festival
Vania is a young girl who lives in her family's Chinese medicine store. She wants to be helpful to adults, but she is too young to have an impact. That is until one night, she is left alone to tend the store, and finds herself treating an injured thief, who is on the run from mobsters. Secretly, she continues to take care of the woman, even going as far as injuring herself to do so.
Filemon directs a very smart short, which essentially plays with the genre of horror, mostly through the audiovisual aspect of the film, but in the end, moves more towards social/family drama territory, in a combination that works quite well actually. As such, and although he initially builds tension about what is going to happen, essentially implying violence, the movie eventually becomes one about helping others, even in extreme situations, while also sending a message about the duty of health workers, through Vania, who has absolutely no second thoughts in helping the woman in need.
Check also this interview
Furthermore, and as the movie closes in on its finale, the impact of Vania's actions seem to extend beyond her interactions with the injured, in a comment, though, that could have been handled a bit better.
Where the short truly thrives is in its visuals. DP Mandela Majid Pracihara creates a truly imposing atmosphere through his framing and coloring, with his intense reds bathing the images presented here in the most impressive fashion. Along with Sigit D. Pratama's production design, they are the main sources of the horrific sense the movie emits in the beginning, in definitely the most memorable aspect here. Helmi Nur Rasyid's editing results in a relatively fast pace, that adds to the entertainment the movie offers.
Young Alexa Jesly Hendrawan is excellent in the protagonist role, being quite convincing in all the different nuances of her character, and in general, one of the attractions of the movie.
“Vania on Lima Street” is smart, well-shot, and in general, a very entertaining short that definitely deserves a watch.
