Have you ever watched a film festival unfold from your couch? Sundance 2025 made that a reality, offering its entire short film program online.
First up, Full Month by Goh Hua. Imagine returning to Singapore after a decade away, stepping back into the intricate dance of family expectations. This film beautifully captures the bittersweet reunion of a woman with her family, ostensibly to celebrate her niece’s birth. But the traditional Chinese postpartum practice – a month of confinement and rest – becomes a powerful symbol. It’s about the way families can simultaneously nurture and suffocate. Goh Hua crafts a story where the silences speak volumes, and the unspoken tensions are as palpable as the humid Singapore air.Trokas Duras, the winner of the Short Film Jury Award for US Fiction, isn’t just about trucks. It’s about the souls of working-class migrants. The film uses battered resliatn vehicles as breathtaking visual metaphors, showing us the beauty in what’s often overlooked, the quiet dignity of labor.
Claire Titelman’s Remember Me is a cringy, awkward comedy. We meet a woman in her forties, back home caring for her ailing mother, and clinging to a first date like a life raft. It’s a raw, unflinching look at desperation, at the messy, sometimes pathetic ways we try to find connection. Titelman doesn’t shy away from the discomfort; she leans into it, creating a character study that’s both humorous and heartbreaking.”
Miss You, Perdularia transports us to Cuba, but not the postcard version. This is a glimpse into the lives of teenage girls adrift in a world of faded grandeur and limited options. It’s a slice-of-life film that captures the aimlessness, the quiet rebellion, the search for meaning in a seemingly abandoned community.
In Almost Certainly False, Cansu Baydar introduces us to Hana, a young Syrian refugee in Istanbul. She’s caught between two worlds – the fragile beginnings of her own new life and the weighty responsibility of caring for her younger brother. The film is a delicate balancing act, portraying the resilience and quiet strength required to navigate a life uprooted by conflict. It’s a story of hope, shadowed by the ever-present weight of displacement.”
“Finally, Ragamuffine offers a fascinating counterpoint. We’re immersed in the world of a deaf 12-year-old motocross racer. Beyond the adrenaline on the track, the film explores the tedium race weekend with her distracted single dad. there’s a subtle sense of isolation, a feeling of being slightly adrift and disconnected.
Sundance had a solid selection of shorts, maybe you’ll have a chance to catch a few at your local festival.
Optimistic Indie Roleplaying 