Valerian Zamel writes and directs the supernatural drama, Light Bunny. The short opens with Carmen (Karole Foreman) slumped over on her couch, ignoring a phone call. Said call is from her boss, urging Carmen to come back to work. Carmen’s phone rings again, but this time she answers. On the other end is the voice of Luke (Eric B. Anthony), her dead son. As they talk, Carmen must come to terms with her grief. But is it really Luke on the phone, or a scammer who just wants something from a lady in the throes of grief?
While there is a possible supernatural angle, Zamel directs this 15-and-a-half-minute short with an eye toward the trauma and grief at the heart of the story. The lighting is moody and somber. The directing throws the audience into the pain the lead character is experiencing right from the jump. The writing keeps Carmen relatable, even if one has never lost a close one. However, the ending is a little too open, raising the question of why end the story there. What is the purpose of the journey by ending it there?
Carmen stands silhouetted in an open doorway in Light Bunny.
“…Carmen’s phone rings again, but this time she answers. On the other end is the voice of Luke, her dead son.”
Foreman excels as the heartbroken and discombobulated character; the only one seen on screen, by the way. Her expressive face and warbly voice sell the hurt she feels the entire film. Anthony is firm and saddened, but he never crosses the line into an obvious scammer (if this Luke is one at all). That delicate balance is where the tension lies, and the two main actors make it live and breathe.
Light Bunny is an absorbing little drama about grief. The direction keeps the emotions as the focus, and the acting is terrific. The story is intriguing until the end, which makes the journey feel incomplete. Still, this is a great calling card for Zamel as a director and Foreman as a leading lady.
For more information, visit the official Light Bunny site.
"…an absorbing little drama about grief."
