Stenofonen (2021) – Short Film Review

Critics w/o CredentialsJanuary 28, 202278/100n/a5 min
Starring
Jesper Christensen, Carla Eleonora Fiegenberg, Joachim Fjelstrup
Writer
Nicolaj Kopernikus
Director
Nicolaj Kopernikus
Rating
n/a
Running Time
22 minutes
Release Date
n/a
Overall Score
Rating Summary
Stenofonen is a short film boasting a heartfelt story contained within two different periods of time about the influence of music.

Stenofonen is a live-action short whose foundation is based on a love of music. It tells a father’s story as he recalls a moment in his past where the discovery of music leads to the emergence of something profound within him. This newfound talent is quickly extinguished by a father who is bereft of joy or drive of any kind and fails to see those sparks within his own son. He wears a face that has seen hardship and as a result, is unable to communicate any sense of emotion beyond anger or disdain which he imparts upon his son at the point of his life where the encouragement of exploration should be at its height.

The greatest strengths of Stenofonen lies within its ability to expertly relate a personal reflection in a manner with which any viewer can understand. The narrative extends beyond a surface of emotional dynamics within a repressed family, instead subtly focusing on the power that music can generate within someone who experiences the poetry of its language. For those captivated by this hold, it becomes a possessive feeling that never leaves no matter how much time may pass in life. Through this short’s examination of that intoxication and relationship, there rises a beautiful message of endurance and passion that is apprehended by its audience. Equally as powerful is the joy and happiness tailored within the journey of rediscovering these dormant emotions lost to time and their capability of becoming reignited in an effort to be released from previous mental shackles.

Stenofonen is a heartfelt story contained within two different periods of time using the omnipresence and influence of music through someone’s life as they relive childhood memories bringing about a form of freedom and healing believed to have been unattainable. One’s past can hold the present hostage and prevent any positive future from becoming a reality, a concept that the film portrays complete with a glimmer of hope at its conclusion presenting a sense of conviction for its audience that should not be ignored.

still courtesy of M&M Productions


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