“Nina,” by Justin Hirschorn 2004 — Short Film Review

Contrite enough to call it quits but hardly contrived enough to remain unheard. “Nina,” having never been entered into competition, Justin Hirschorn, of whom I know very well, had moved on formerly after he had graduated with honors from SIAD. Three long years in preparation for his final showcase, Justin succeeds in representing the knowledge base and tutelage of a man, having come through these three years with exacting precision.

The film itself plays to every emotional cue, affording the audience a modern cinematic experience, one that would be expected of any third year film graduate, but somehow manages to remain vague enough that the narrative fails the director’s appeal.

Visually orchestrated to tell a very straight story of two colliding forces, meeting at odds ends, awaiting its final crescendo where the new is awaiting to surpass the old. The film constitutes said representation envisioned in the formulative story of a coming-of-age dancer Nina Karkovsky, to degree of father and daughter harangue.

Where typically there is a son to replace “Nina,” in a roller coaster ride of a relationship, this film itself, is imagined of two students of dance, both attempting to make peace at of their respective dance careers, we find the relationship a little alienating.

Oftentimes, though only 16 minutes in length, the relationship between both Karkovsky’s maneuvering the setting of the stage, in the greater London area, we as the audience find it difficult to believe that these two characters belong in the same story.

As the sun sets on one the dawn appears before the other… the setting of the stage is a metaphor for the beginning of a new chapter for both father and daughter. But, they will find some resolution in it all, as is said… in the most expectant of scenarios. It is this that is the film’s strength and subsequently its greatest hindrance, as we struggle to understand Rudolph Karkovsky’s motivations, Nina’s dreams begin to flourish.

As a result of an uninspired screenplay, Philip Psaras fails to meet the compulsion of most movie goer’s, where hammy performances are met head on and in key distinctions, seasoned dance actors are left flailing with too little to play with.

With news of the production’s success having spread far and wide and within the grounds of the university, the truest regard of this is held in high esteem because of Hirschorn’s charm and popularity.

The completed film is a wonder to behold, for the true mark of greatness is in how motion pictures come together, and as that is the prerequisite to “Nina,” the ultimate triumph, both Emily Jane Holt(Nina Karkovsky) and Philip Psaras(Rudolf Karkovsky) are heartfelt in every passionate step.

“Nina,” Justin Hirschorn 2004

— 3rd Year Graduation Film from the Surrey Institute of Film and Video, directed by Justin Hirschorn, “Nina,” is a dance film featuring Emily Holt in the lead role(playing Nina Karkowsky). Edited by Jonathan ‘Lim Chin Aun’. —