This is Vanity
Burgeoning British filmmaker Oliver Goodrum shares his award-winning work on Vimeo
by Andrea DiCenzo
Beautifully shot and impeccably directed, Oliver Goodrum‘s first short film, “This is Vanity” premiered online as one of Vimeo’s Staff Picks . The short film, which has gone on to win Best Drama at Magnolia Independent Film Festival and the Audience Award at Bermuda International Film Festival, is the harrowing tale of a young mother and her disabled teenage daughter struggling to overcome bullying in a small town in England. Not an easy pill to swallow—especially considering the idea stems from a real life story that made headlines across the UK in 2011. However, the ambitious film takes on this dark subject matter with a great amount of dignity and grace.
An excellent performance from a largely unknown cast (with the exception of Primeval star Lucy Brown‘s brilliant performance as Angela) and the almost lyrical cinematography bring a softness and beauty that balances out the otherwise hard-hitting narrative.
This independent production has done exceedingly well considering its humble backing, which the director very honestly proclaims was mostly funded by himself and his brother-cum-producer, James Goodrum.
You can currently watch the 23-minute-long, emotionally moving film in its entirety above, or over at Vimeo.
Images courtesy of Oliver Goodrum
