HOLLYSHORTS FILM FESTIVAL 2025 REVIEW! Director Freddie Fox teams up with actor Tanya Reynolds on the screenplay for The Painting & The Statue. In the 20-minute romance, Reynolds plays the titular Painting, who is hung inside the living room of a grand mansion. Just across the hall from her is the Statue (Andrew Monaghan), and the two art pieces yearn to be together. Although it is not like the human owners throughout the years have ever taken notice of the art’s needs. Aside from admiring the craftsmanship, little heed is paid to the statue or the painting.
“…two art pieces yearn to be together.”
Fox takes a bold and daring approach to the presentation of his short film. The camera is fixed from either the Statue’s or the Painting’s point of view. While limiting the use of the room, the two camera angles effectively put all the viewers into the minds of the main characters. Additionally, it is fun to observe the creative ways humans interact with the art as closely as possible. Noa Margalit’s musical compositions perfectly underscore any given scene. Finally, the human characters throughout the decades are played by the same handful of actors, which allows them to show off their range nicely.
The Painting & The Statue is a perfectly romantic tale. It is expertly told in a creative way. The actors are solid, and the ending is simply wonderful.
The Painting & The Statue screened at the 2025 Hollyshorts Film Festival.
"…bold and daring..."
