Director: Myles Wheeler
Writers: Myles Wheeler
Cast: Charlotte Capitelli, Myles Wheeler
Running time: 12mins
Sometimes you start watching a film and immediately understand: this is for me; I will like it. When I came across this beautiful short film I was hooked from the start. The aesthetics, the rhythm and the music won me over, and I not only enjoyed the film, but also the experience of watching it, even at home.
Hi from a mayfly is a sweet story about a mayfly that becomes human. It does not aim to win any film awards, but it definitely aims to win your heart, and it will most likely succeed. It is easily watchable before going to bed, or on your break from work, and that is part of its charm.
The premise is simple, and that’s its beauty. The protagonist finds a man in the lake, who claims to be a mayfly. She then confesses that she knows mayflies only live for 24 hours, and promises to make the most out of the day for the both of them. The film only lasts those 24 hours (one can argue two hours per minute of film), and the beautiful and sad moments they experience are only interrupted by the clock that appears once in a while, to remind them (and the audience) how much time is left. The film can be described as a bitter-sweet comedy; a ‘coming of age’ of a mayfly.
And while the surrealistic element is prominent; there is also some real-world absurdity to check our cynicism (a mayfly has magically turned human in the water, but somehow the girl is still most worried about seeing him naked). The mayfly is human now and can communicate with her, however he can still understand the bees and the trees. None of that matters; there is humanity and innocence, so well made, that one is to enjoy it at all times.
The footage is mostly live action, but there are also many animations, using different techniques (the clock, some images, and others) further adding to the charm. It’s not easy to use all of those techniques so well – but again, simplicity is key, and so all the effect and animations are exactly at the ‘appropriate amount’ (proportionate to the run-time). The animations are simple and elegant, and the blending of animation techniques and live-action footage is seamless.
The actors meanwhile do a great job in bringing their emotions to life, maybe with the exception of the most difficult scene in the film towards the end – though that did not bother this viewer at all in the grand scheme of things. I found myself longing for the story and sympathising completely with both the mayfly and the girl.
The ‘visualisation’ of the breathing and the senses succeeds, and the clock ticking louder each time is heard is a subtle but nice touch. The music is prominent but works very well with the image and the sound design.
This still will not be to everyone’s taste. But this is clearly a passion project, and that passion is part of what makes it special. The filmmaker wants us to feel something, and we do. The viewer longs for the story, there is connection to the characters through the experiences they have. The Mayfly is showing the human how to appreciate every single thing, learns joy and pain, and always understands that it’s all part of life.
I definitely recommend this short film for a pick-me-up, and a welcome break from reality. It will boost the mood and put a smile on your face. It is not necessarily a film that you need to watch on the big screen, but again, its simplicity is its beauty. I look forward to seeing more films like this, and more films from Myles Wheeler.