Directed by Narboto Anarbaev and Robin A. Townsend and written by Townsend, The Desperate End is a world-ending short film exploring the emotional intensity of humanity’s final moments. As the world panics from the announcement of an incoming nuclear strike, complete lawlessness spreads through the streets of Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan. Diana (Taazim Umotaaly) remains unaware, dancing and preparing a meal in her apartment. Her husband, Almaz (Omurbek Izrailov), races through the chaos to reach her, only to discover that the nearest bomb shelter is too crowded to enter.
A chaotic overhead shot captures residents fleeing through the streets of Bishkek as nuclear catastrophe looms in The Desperate End.
“…Almaz races through the chaos to reach her, only to discover that the nearest bomb shelter is too crowded…”
With just fifteen minutes until the missile hits, Almaz and Diana hide in a basement where he once stashed a handgun, determined to protect her at all costs. As they confront the inevitability of their fate, he reveals a long-buried secret so important that she must know before it all ends. In their most desperate time, next to the impending nuclear holocaust, Almaz did the unspeakable as a direct result of his gambling addiction. But Almaz isn’t the only one harboring secrets.
The Desperate End is a nice and tidy two-hander with some incredible shots of panic in the streets of Bishkek. A lot of effort went into this short film, including overhead shots of a panicked crowd and a frantic mob chasing after Almaz’s car. The heart of the story lies in the basement, where Almaz and Diana profess their love, then come clean. It’s a story that honestly asks, what would you do if the world were to end in 15 minutes? I’m sure we would all have different answers, but in this case, telling the truth is interesting and intriguing. If you’re a fan of science fiction, you might figure out the ending, but the intensity is excellent—solid storytelling from Narboto Anarbaev and Robin A. Townsend.
"…telling the truth is interesting and intriguing..."
