Films

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Solitude
United Kingdom 2015
Director: Jordan
Crichlow
With Brandon
Townsend, Shannon
Irving
Certificate 15 4m 35s
Whilst this short film is
Jordan Crichlows first, it
also sees the acting debuts
of two South-London
inhabitants, 17-year-old
Brandon Townsend (Young
Man), and 18-year-old
Shannon Irving (Young
Woman). Crichlow reveals
to us that he grew up with
these two young adults,
attending secondary school
with them and becoming
personal friends. The
entrustment of these two
people was not taken
lightly by Crichlow, due to
the expression first
impressions are lasting
impressions very
prominent during the
analysis of a directors first
film; it shows what kind of
approach the director takes
to film, and how well they
can convince their actors
to play their part well, just
to name some of the
characteristics that are
heavily examined.

SYNOPSIS

When we are first

introduced to Young Man
(Brandon Townsend), we
are greeted by the silent
rustling of trees, and the
gentle rhythm of the
flowing stream. Already,
we see Townsend plays
his part well, keeping
soundless in comparison
with the already peaceful
environment. We are
kept from seeing his face
fully, having to watch the
slow movements of his
hands and eyes, as he
examines the
environment through a
stable positioned
camera. As we begin to
become relaxed and
enjoy the artwork of the
young man, the Young
Woman (Shannon Irving)
disrupts the privacy, by
exposing herself in Young
Mans camera frame.
Young Man, however, in
contrast to the disruption
he should surely feel,
becomes intimately
interested with this new
specimen he has found
in his camera frame, and
eagerly examines her
through the lens.
Crichlow mostly avoids
the obvious, through his
compelling storyline, and
drastically changing
scenes.

Wallington, Surrey. Outside, daytime,

present day. A 17-year-old young man is filming the
streams and trees of Grove Park, through the lens of
his camera. Quietly and humbly, he admires his work.
Suddenly, a face comes into view of his camera. It is
that of an 18-year-old young woman, who sits alone by
the riverside, cuddling herself tightly against the wind.
The young man, out of view, admires his new
acquaintance, and films her.
The young woman takes out a bottle of beer, and
some tablets, surprising the young man. She gulps
down two tablets, with the help of her beer, which
leads her to stand up, and walk towards the stream.
Her feet go under the water, and she continues to walk
forwards. Meanwhile, the young man is in a state of
panic; finding out his phone is out of range, and seeing
nobody else in sight, he screams at the young woman.
These actions, in turn, startles the young man more
so than the young woman, and he falls over, and upon

One minute, the Young

Man is filming the
peacefulness of the river,
and the next (after an
intriguing sign of alcohol
and drug abuse), the
Young Woman is violating
the river with her
contaminated feet! It is
Crichlows ambitiousness
as a young new director
that shows his desire to
deviate from the social
norms, and also
jeopardising his actors
wellbeing; having young
Irving stand in a river for
god knows how long,
whatever method he used
in doing so.
Jordan Crichlows latest
short does indeed remind
us of his first project
Truant (2014). It revisits
the scene style and genre
of Social Realism, which
shows his commitment to
said film genre. Truant
received a number of
nominations and awards at
festivals, proving
Crichlows status as one of
the most promising young
directors coming into the
business. The title itself,
Solitude, is similar to
Truant, as they are both
short, yet have a powerful
meaning; plus, they both
refer to their respective
storylines; Truant sees a
middle-aged teenager
influenced by his peers to
deviate from the norms of
school, whilst Solitude sees
a young man attempt to
establish a connection
between himself and a
young woman, in his path
to manhood.
Taking this all into
account, we must
remember that he is still
only 17 years of age. If he
continues in this form, he
has the potential to
become of the most
successful film directors in
British history, and
although that may be a
step too far at such an
early stage, there is no

Director of
Photography
Jade Mayne
Film Editor
Jordan Crichlow
Lee Cheeseman
Production
Designer
Jules Becker
Becky Snell
Props Master
Jordan Fincham
Rohit Tahme
Make-Up Artist
Evangeline
Hayden
Casting
Jules Becker
Jordan Crichlow
Jordan Kent
Visual Effects
Jordan Crichlow
Ben Phillips
Anna Watson
Art Directors
Jordan Crichlow
Jack Taylor
Chloe-Ann
Dorward
Kaya Saunders

Cast
Brandon
Townsend
YOUNG MAN
Shannon Irving
YOUNG WOMAN
Dolby Digital
In Colour
[2.35:1]
Distributor
Beacon Studios
204 ft + 3
frames

picking himself up, finds the young woman out of the

water, filming him through her phone. She orders him,
through hand motions, to bring the camera to her. He
does so, and she admires the beautiful footage of the
streams and trees, to which the young man compares
her too. They both smile at each other.

harm in wondering.

---> Bryan Danielson

Credits
Produced by
Liam Somerscale
Jules Becker
Written by
Jordan Crichlow
53 / Sight & Sound / April 2015