MAGAZINE FILM REVIEW

After the enormous success of the feature film “Where’s Joey?”, director Daisy Newman is back in business with this short film. Its scary how easily films with a pet protagonist can go wrong. At first, you think its just going to be another cheesy film that you’ve been made to watch by your mum and you do so, just to keep her quiet! There are dozens of films like this like, snow dogs, air bud and Benji – neither funny nor sorrowful enough to make an impact. Happily, The Life of Mollie gets it just right.

No matter the plot, any film featuring a dog as a lead character is aiming to tickle your heart strings, and this film certainly does. Animal lovers beware, you are going to fall in love with the hero, Mollie, a plump golden Labrador; in this bitter sweet short film. In the film, you see the whimsical mid shots of her ears flapping in the wind, her running in all directions and an amusing montage to represent the major amount of time she spends asleep.

The film begins with adorable puppy photos in picture frames, showing her age to where she is now. Following footage is of creative shots of Mollie being, well Mollie, in her home; from eating to sleeping, playing and running around! Mollie then takes you on one of her anticipated walks to the beach, where you are taken directly into her point of view! You see directly the impact of walk has on a dog and can get you to really appreciate the outdoors and what it has to offer. It leads into a tremendous collection of her adventures from parks, beaches and reams to sand dunes; you can clearly see she is in her element. This continues as the film goes on and you really get to know Mollie for all her little attributes. However, every film needs a narrative that shocks us positively or negatively, and Mollie can’t live forever. Unfortunately, Mollie takes a turn for the worse and the man discovers an abscess on her stomach. After getting an emergency appointment, Mollie is taken to the vets. It isn’t good news. As the audience sees the man leaving the vets by himself, we can only think for the worst. The rest of the film shows the man removing the remaining physical objects that Mollie has left behind and him being on his own. What is realised is that all the small routines and actions Mollie had done, is what stays and is remembered the most.

The bittersweet ending isn’t for everyone’s taste, but if you did not feel a shed of sad emotions for this short film, then you are probably a sociopath! But all this, Mollie isn’t the one we are made to feel for; the unknown male companions, who’s identity remains a mystery, are the characters effected by the disruption. The film portrays Mollie as still being the happy dog she will always be, no matter what.

Not a dry eye in the house – but not too much cheese either.