Rama’s SCREEN

I was watching cool short films on Bulletfilm.com, an awesome venue where you can post your own movie projects, you aspiring filmmakers! And then I came across this comedy with an interesting title, which got me curious and so I watched it and you know what… I’m glad I did.

THE MYSTERIOUS MICHAEL A
Directed by: NIGEL LESMOIR-GORDON

(Click on the image below to watch the short film)

The synopsis is brief and straightforward, the story centers around a visitor named Michael who takes a room in Margaret’s Bed and Breakfast. Michael works on a book day and night, but leaves secretly and without paying. Margaret is distraught until she finds that he has left her his manuscript, which turns out to be very valuable. Margaret’s life is transformed. Simple, right?
Once the word transformed is mentioned, most people can assume it’s for the better. I’m not saying the story isn’t predictable but it’s not done in a way that would let you down.

It’s a comedy and the success of it all depends on the interaction between the two main characters. Actress Joanna Bowen does well in playing the home owner, Margaret, who’s not keen on Michael’s unorthodox method of paying the rent, which starts with a down payment and pay full when leaving. You can see she would constantly come up with any new service and extra charge just to make sure he’s paying something at least, on daily basis. Actor Nicholas Jones as the mysterious man seems annoyed by her efforts but you can see that he’s determined to finish what he was set out to do from the beginning.

Who’s Michael A? Is he an angel? Is he a good Samaritan? Or is he just some rich dude who’s got mad skills in writing novels in just 28 days and is a glutton for helping others, a savior complex? No one knows what motivates him to go from one house to another and change the residents’ lives.
I like movies about angels. I particularly grew up watching Michael Landon’s TV series Highway to Heaven where in every episode, he got to help somebody and then hitchhiked his way to help the next person.

To a certain extent, even though I know that THE MYSTERIOUS MICHAEL A is a short comedy that’s meant to entertain, I kinda wish it would show a bit of a what Margareth goes through to deserve such gift. Maybe they could’ve shown just briefly what motivates Margareth to rent out a room or why she really needs the money to come in more often than just wait until the 28 days is over. I think the character Michael is good just the way it is because he needs to be kept mysterious.

For a short film, the production is surprisingly well, you can tell director Nigel Lesmoir-Gordon is not inexperienced. His directing is subtle yet it doesn’t go astray from its humor and the element of surprise. This is yet another proof that a very interesting story could compliment the simplicity surrounding it.

My grade for this short film: 4 out of 5