A while ago, I received a short film from an unknown director by the name of Davide Melini. I usually don’t waste my time with short films, especially not reviewing them, but Melini’s first short film, The Puzzle, was a thrilling Argento-esque giallo that, while only five minutes long, managed to stick with me for much longer. So when Melini contacted me and offered me the chance to check out his latest short film, I jumped at the offer.

Melini’s latest offering is a short piece that has to do with life, death and circumstance. The film is couched in mystery, and offered up on a bed of beautiful imagery, with an undertone of gritty loss. At only 16 minutes, The Sweet Hand of the White Rose runs the full spectrum of emotions that you would find in a full-length feature.

Melini’s staging and shot selection is top notch, and it’s a shame that he hasn’t yet received an offer to make a full-length feature. I simply can’t wait to see what Melini can do with a full-length film, because based on the excellence in tone, mood, and imagery that is on display in The Puzzle and Sweet Hand, this guy is on the cusp of doing something great.

Of course, The Sweet Hand of the White Rose isn’t perfect. If there was one thing that troubled me about the short film, and this is often the case for international directors, it’s that the English narration is both unwanted and of poor quality. The actors reading the voiceover lines are quite obviously reading, and their unnatural tones distract the viewer from the power of Melini’s film. What’s even worse is that the film will stand on its own without propping up from unnecessary narration. The film’s final lines are so cheesy, that the film’s very real message may be overlooked by some. I’ve seen this problem with foreign language directors working in English plenty of times (Check out my review of Fruit Chan’s Don’t Look Up), and most people seem to overlook it, but in order to achieve true crossover success, this is an issue that must be dealt with or worked around.

Still, despite that little blip, The Sweet Hand of the White Rose is one of the purest, most fascinating short films I’ve seen, and I wanted more when it was over. What’s more, I simply wanted to go out and find this guy a script and a producer when the film was over, because I’m eagerly awaiting a full-length feature from Davide Melini.

Final Synopsis: This is review is scored with indie/short film rules, so I don’t go into the whole “points lost/points gained” deal. I simply give an overall impression of the work. The story may be somewhat clichéd, but the way in which Melini visually tells the tale overcomes this. Melini is equal parts artist and director, but his story works well. I definitely recommend this one to everyone who loves creepiness and horror.

Burning Question: When is Melini going to be offered a full-length feature?

The Sweet Hand of the White Rose
8/10

Tags: 2010, davide melini, latest independent movie review, latest indie movie reviews, latest movie reviews, New Independent Film Reviews, new indie film reviews, short film, short film review