At the crack of dawn, a mysterious stranger sits in a cafe in Kent, England, keeping an eye on the hard-working waitress during her shift. But the stranger is really waiting for her teenage son to come in. The waitress's son, Freddy, committed a crime during the night, and he is going to confront the boy about it -- to make different choices and change his ultimate fate. Directed by David Anderson from a script written by Aaron Diebelius, this moody, intriguing short drama is a slow burn at first, its muted, atmospheric visuals establishing a sense of place and feeling, from the careworn setting to the weighed-down demeanor of the waitress. The pacing at first allows for patient observation, both for the audience and the stranger, who sits preoccupied but watchful, especially of the waitress. When the teenage son enters the cafe, though, pieces of the narrative begin to fall into place, especially once it reveals how the stranger knows Freddy, though it does not elaborate too much on the criminal elements of Fred's decisions.
Though some backstory is woven into the dialogue via the film's excellent, richly layered writing, the structure is essentially a series of conversations, first between the stranger and Freddy and then with Freddy's mother, revealing different sides of the stranger. Actor Ariyon Bakare -- who audiences may recognize from such dramas as BBC/HBO's His Dark Materials and Amazon's Good Omens -- brings the stranger to life with a masterful, tensely coiled performance, capturing the hardened middle-aged man who has experienced and been shaped by regrets and wants better for Freddy, played by actor Denzel Baidoo with equal parts flinty bravado, blustering violence and surprising vulnerability. He's brought to heel by the stranger's sense of power and even menace, attempting to get the young Freddy to see the consequences of his actions by any means necessary. But Bakare truly shines when he interacts with Freddy's mother, illuminating the most resonant emotional arc in "Reflection" -- someone who has come to appreciate the love, care and sacrifice of a mother. While elements of the short film could be easily expanded, especially concerning the younger present-day Freddy and the stranger's current circumstances, the stranger's conversation with the mother conveys a genuine tenderness, making it a poignant way to end this particular chapter of an intriguing larger story. ABOUT OMELETO Omeleto is the home of the world's best short films. We showcase critically-acclaimed filmmakers from the Oscars, Sundance, Cannes and more! Subscribe now: https://sub2.omele.to A man confronts a teen about a crime he's committed -- and tries to change his fate. | Reflection
