DROBOIVS25

 

 POSTED BY: BENJAMIN DANSO – INDEX NO: BFATP28004

06/28/2025  06:56 PM

 A FILM ANALYSIS OF STILL WYLDE

 Written and Directed by Ingrid Hass 

The short film Still Wylde offers a quietly powerful exploration of modern relationships, unexpected pregnancy, and the emotional weight of choice. With nuanced performances, understated cinematography, and a script rooted in emotional realism, the film delivers an intimate and memorable experience. Rather than relying on dramatic flourishes, it invites the viewer to sit with the discomfort, humor, and heartbreak of two people navigating a life-altering moment together.

From the opening scene, Still Wylde immediately captures attention with its tone simultaneously light and heavy. There’s a playfulness between the central couple, Gertie and Sam, that masks the deeper tensions underneath. The film makes you feel a complicated mix of hope, sadness, and empathy as you witness two people wrestling with a future neither of them fully anticipated. The story wastes no time in building its emotional stakes and develops quickly, creating a deep emotional engagement in just a few minutes. Without giving too much away, the narrative revolves around the couple’s response to an unplanned pregnancy and their struggle to make sense of their relationship in light of it. The central message is clear: love alone is not always enough, and life’s most meaningful decisions are often shaped by timing, trust, and vulnerability.

The characters are exceptionally well developed for such a short runtime. Gertie, in particular, emerges as the film’s emotional anchor. She is vulnerable yet composed, raw but restrained an individual caught between heartbreak and resilience. Sam, her partner, is less emotionally transparent, but his moments of silence and hesitation add depth to his character. The chemistry between the two leads is convincing, and their performances feel authentic and lived-in. Their relationship is the heart of the film, layered with shared history, miscommunication, and unresolved affection.

Visually, the film is just as thoughtful as its performances. The cinematography leans into close-up shots and tight framing, pulling the audience into the private emotional world of the characters. There is a subdued color palette that reflects the somber themes of the story without being overly dramatic. One particularly effective visual moment is the ultrasound scene, where minimal dialogue allows the visuals and expressions to carry the emotional weight. Lighting and composition are used sparingly but with precision, emphasizing emotional closeness or distance between the characters at key moments.

The sound design and music complement the visual storytelling without overpowering it. The score is soft and minimal, helping to enhance the mood while allowing space for silence to speak volumes. Dialogue is clean and natural, and moments of quiet are used effectively to highlight discomfort, uncertainty, or intimacy. Rather than relying on a sweeping soundtrack, the film trusts its emotional content to carry the story, and it succeeds.

Overall, Still Wylde is a beautifully restrained film that exceeds expectations for a short narrative. Its greatest strengths lie in its emotional honesty, strong performances, and the unspoken moments that linger long after the credits roll. While some viewers may desire a more dramatic or clearly resolved ending, the film’s subtlety is part of its emotional power. It evokes strong reactions without ever feeling manipulative or forced. I would highly recommend this film to anyone who appreciates character driven stories and nuanced emotional storytelling. Its lasting impact lies not in a clear cut resolution but in its raw portrayal of love, loss, and the uncertainty that often defines life’s biggest choices.

In the short film Still Wylde, the narrative is driven not by dramatic action but by quiet emotional tension and deeply personal stakes. Using the classic story arrangement framework centered around a protagonist, a clear goal, an opposing antagonist with firm principles, and a high stakes resolution the film presents a subtle but powerful examination of emotional struggle, relational uncertainty, and the personal cost of unresolved differences.

At the heart of Still Wylde is its protagonist, Gertie. She is the emotional core of the film and the character through whom the audience experiences the weight of the story. Gertie is not just reacting to the situation; she is actively seeking answers answers about her pregnancy, her relationship with Sam, and what kind of future she wants or is even capable of pursuing. Her journey is quiet but determined, as she searches for clarity amid emotional confusion.

Gertie’s specific goal is clear: she wants emotional resolution and perhaps reassurance about the path forward. Faced with an unplanned pregnancy, she is forced to confront what she truly wants not only from her own life but from her partner, Sam. Her objective isn’t a simple decision about motherhood; it’s about the deeper emotional and relational implications that come with it. She is looking for honesty, commitment, and a sense of shared responsibility things that are far from guaranteed in her current relationship.

In contrast, Sam serves as the film’s antagonist not in the traditional sense of being a villain, but as a character whose internal conflict and emotional hesitancy stand in the way of Gertie’s clarity. Sam is defined by a set of principles rooted in emotional caution, reluctance to commit, and discomfort with vulnerability. These principles make him incapable, at least in the moment, of fully supporting Gertie or offering her the emotional security she seeks. His presence creates a direct conflict, not through confrontation but through emotional absence and inconsistency.

What makes Gertie a compelling protagonist is her willingness to struggle. She does not retreat from the conversation or avoid the emotional challenges ahead. Instead, she faces them with a quiet courage. Whether through confrontation, silence, or reflection, Gertie consistently chooses to engage with her reality, even when it’s painful. Her emotional labor becomes the narrative’s engine, and her quiet persistence reveals a strength that is both relatable and inspiring.

As the story unfolds, Gertie finds herself in a situation where she could win or lose everything. If Sam can’t rise to the occasion emotionally or otherwise Gertie risks losing not just a partner, but the vision of shared responsibility and support she longs for. Conversely, choosing to move forward alone comes with its own kind of loss. The stakes are deeply personal and emotionally complex, and the film does an excellent job of portraying this inner turmoil with realism and restraint.

Ultimately, Still Wylde explores whether differences in principle can be resolved. The film doesn’t offer a tidy resolution instead; it opts for honesty. The conclusion suggests that some emotional distances cannot be bridged, at least not easily. Yet, it also offers a quiet strength in Gertie’s journey. Her decision, whatever it may be, feels grounded in self-awareness rather than desperation. The emotional growth she experiences is subtle but significant.

In conclusion, Still Wylde effectively follows a classical story arrangement structure, even within the confines of a short film. By centering the story on a protagonist with a clear emotional goal, placing her in conflict with an emotionally opposing force, and escalating the stakes to a point of critical decision-making, the film delivers a poignant and grounded exploration of love, loss, and personal integrity. Its quiet power lies not in explosive drama but in the honest portrayal of emotional struggle and the quiet courage it takes to face it.

Link to watch the full film: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wW6ZQ2Z3XdM
 #VisualStorytelling #IVS2025 #UniMACIFT

Posted by: Benjamin Danso