There seems to be a justifiable confidence
at work in Bertie Brosnan’s Jacob
Wrestling with the Angel film.
Jacob Wrestling with the Angel tells the story of Jacob, an artist who is
struggling with his work. Indeed the angel in this case is his sanity. He is at
times reduced to a wreck, staring at a computer screen from which various
phrases emanate from. One of the main phrases ‘is there any such thing as
freedom?’ seems apt for Jacob’s mental state, indeed it is easy to imagine that
these words are only heard in his head. We also see Jacob’s dream state, where
he is either in dark corridors (of his mind), in a forest or on an open beach.
The shots on the beach seem to suggest a more lucid and calm state of being.
This is a fascinating short film.
The pace is languid, the storytelling unhurried, the script sparse. This is a
film that is telling you a great deal but with the minimum of traditional
narrative. This may be a problem for some people but for me it worked in its
favour. Some of the cinematography by Blaine Rennicks is superb, particularly
in the forest. The score by Jason Fernandez is beautiful. If there is a
criticism it would be that maybe a minute or so could be shaved off the running
time. It is not too long in general terms but the pacing might be helped with a
slightly shorter film. Otherwise this is a fine film.
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