Search

» » Paradox (2006)

Short summary

At the bottom of a deep stone-walled dry well, a man wakes up, only to see another man already there. Without a doubt, both strangers are hopelessly trapped, moreover, after a brief conversation, it is quite obvious that they have a completely different understanding of their environment: the former strongly believes that he is inside an ordinary well, while the latter, is convinced that they are in the bowels of a dismal dungeon. There is only one way to find out the truth.

The director also wrote the film, organized his casting sessions and met about 70 actors to find his two characters. The film in the can, Jeremy did all the visual effects by himself. He learned how to use the software to recreate a CG well from scratch in the most ambitious shots, and composited about 30 green screen shots. He also did the editing, the grading and the whole of the sound design.

Since it's been completed late 2005, the film has been selected in more than 10 international festivals, including Tribeca, Palm Springs and LA Shorts Fest. In 2006, Paradoja (2006) won Best Short Film at the Method Fest in Los Angeles, Special Jury Award at both the Malibu International Film Festival and WorldFest-Houston, and First Place for Best Screenplay at the Rhode Island International Film Festival.

Everything inside the well was shot in a studio facility in London. A 4 meters high well set was built out of wood and plaster bricks.

The film was shot on standard definition Mini-DV, but using a Mini35 adapter in order to reduce the depth of field and get a "film look". This system allows to mount film lenses at the front of the camcorder.

The music was done by Siddhartha Barnhoorn, a 24 years-old Dutch composer who did it all on his computer.

User reviews


  • comment
    • Author: Virtual
    ABSOLUTELY BRILLIANT FILM!! The production values and the actors were phenomenal in their undertaking.

    I must say, I was taken in by the superb development of this story. No, I was transported! Leave it to the British to create something of such high quality! Thank you to all who took part for, one, a fascinating story that could have been expanded (though I am glad it wasn't) and two, for the utterly surprising twist of an ending! I highly recommend this movie and it baffles me that the first reviewer chose to only see this under a negative light. Some people just don't get things. I got it and I loved it.
  • comment
    • Author: Fhois
    "Paradox" is an 18-minute short film about two men stuck inside a well. I like films about isolation, but I must say this one wasn't too convincing for me. The dialogs weren't really interesting and the only thing I liked about it was the ending. It was written and directed by French filmmaker Jeremy Haccoun, but it's an English movie in terms of language and country of production. The two lead performances weren't really memorable either and I have to admit I did not really care what happened to either of the two or what is going to happen. Quite a pity as the premise was a fairly interesting one. All in all, I cannot recommend it and I am fairly baffled that it won so many awards. i thought it did not manage to deliver either as drama or comedy. Thumbs down
  • Credited cast:
    Simon McLinden Simon McLinden - Tom
    George Tardios George Tardios - William
    Martin Wimbush Martin Wimbush - Johnson
    Julian Agnew Julian Agnew - Greenburg
    Phil Barley Phil Barley - Male Nurse
    Richard Stoker Richard Stoker - Screaming Man
    Robert Gray Robert Gray - Barking Man
    Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
    Robert H. Wainwright Robert H. Wainwright - Pacing Mental Patient (as Robert Hartley Wainwright)
    All rights reserved © 2017-2024 hd.thomson-multimedia.com