A short film does not need to say much to say a lot, which is especially true with writer/director Tom Alner’s Baroness. The story is simple: George (Gordon J. Miller) is a solitary man who has long staked his spot every evening at the local pub. Every night is the same drink and idle chit-chat with the bartender, Paul (Davy Holt).
“…George bumps into Elena just down the street.”
The monotony is broken when George notices a young woman, Elena (Caroline Koziol), staring at the pub’s “Help Wanted” sign and then walking in. When Elena spots George looking at her, she walks off. Later that night, George bumps into Elena just down the street.
There’s not a lot of frills to Baroness, nor should there be. Instead, the story is sweet and plays out in an unexpected way, commenting on the feelings of loneliness and the need for human connection. Running at less than ten minutes, Alner masterfully connects with his audience’s emotions, walks us down the path of George’s life for a brief moment, and leaves us with a quick glimpse of hope. The filmmaker provides a simple, efficient, and powerful snapshot of these two people.
"…Alner masterfully connects with his audience's emotions..."
