Forget Me Not (2019 film)
This sandbox is in the article namespace. Either move this page into your userspace, or remove the {{User sandbox}} template.
Forget Me Not (2019 film)
Forget Me Not is a 2019 short film directed by Nicholas Goulden and produced by Angela Godfrey, both of whom wrote the screenplay. It tells the story of Isobel, a young girl who forms an unlikely alliance with a lonely homeless man as she struggles to get a message to her family in time for Christmas. The film was shot in Hammersmith, London, and the score was recorded at Abbey Road Studios. It won a number of international awards including Best Drama at Portobello Film Festival,[1] The Dam Short Film Festival [2] and Best Short Feature Film and The Special Prize at Zero Plus International Film Festival. [3] The film’s television debut was on London Live and it is now available on a number of online platforms including Amazon Prime Video
Forget Me Not was crowdfunded on Kickstarter by over 170 people.
Plot
Isobel (Royle), a silent young girl, is lost and alone on the streets of London. She looks like she wants help, but no-one notices her.
It is six days until Christmas. Isobel intently watches a world-weary commuter, Jack (Heffernan), as he speaks to his troubled young son on the phone. She seems to share his concerns and follows him.
Jack walks to Benedict (Cosmo), an older homeless man, giving him a coffee as part of his daily ritual. Benedict stares vacantly and barely responds, but Jack accepts this as normal and continues on his way. Isobel stops to look at Benedict, empathising with his plight.
Wandering the streets, increasingly hopeless, she that night comes across him again and, despite her own situation, she feels sad for him and stops to look. To her amazement, Benedict looks up and stares right at her. He is the only person who can see her and is, she realises, her only hope.
In an effort to communicate with Benedict, Isobel gives him her teddy bear as he sleeps. But next morning, the bear has disappeared. Benedict thinks little of it, assuming he was dreaming. The same thing happens over the next several days as Isobel tries - and fails - to communicate with Benedict, succeeding only in frustrating him.
As the days go by, Isobel’s hope diminishes until, two nights before Christmas, Benedict becomes angry and yells at her to leave him alone. Terrified and distraught, Isobel runs away.
On Christmas Eve, straying from his usual spot after Jack gives him cash to buy a coffee, Benedict sees a photograph of Isobel nestled among old bouquets of flowers that mark the site of a fatal traffic accident. The penny drops.
That night, finally realising that Isobel needs his help, not the other way around, Benedict finds her and apologises. She offers him her bear and, looking at it in a new light, he now notices that sown into the label is the name and address of Owen, Isobel’s brother. He promises to get the bear to Owen in time for Christmas. Content at last that her message will be passed on, she hugs Benedict and disappears, leaving her balloon to ascend into the night sky.
With renewed purpose, Benedict goes to Isobel’s house. He is greeted by Owen, a four year old full of beans, who runs off for his parents. He returns with his father, a very surprised Jack. When Benedict gives the bear to Owen, he learns that Owen blames himself for Isobel’s death because she was hit by a car after running to pick up Owen’s bear which he had dropped - and Isobel is trying to tell him that she’s ok.
As Benedict turns to leave, Jack, struggling to come to terms with what has just happened, invites Benedict in.
As the credits start to roll, a young man carrying a sports bag arrives at Benedict’s now empty spot and starts to settle in. Even on Christmas Morning, the cycle of homelessness continues.
Cast
- James Cosmo as Benedict
- John Heffernan as Jack
- Ruby Royle as Isobel
- Louis Brodie as Owen
- Anton Romaine Thompson as Barista
- Ricardo Freitas as Drunk Homeless Man
- Tom Patrick Coley as Young Homeless Man
Reception
Critical response
Critical reception for Forget Me Not has been universally positive. UK Film Review [4] called it a ‘devastatingly moving story and ranked it in the Top 20 films of 2019, Critical Popcorn [5] said it was ‘an unforgettable, heartwarming story’ while Flix Chatter [6] described it as ‘such a beautiful film’. It has an average IMDb [7] rating of 8.2.
Awards & Nominations
- Winner: Best Drama - Portobello Film Festival[8]
- Winner: Best Drama - Dam Short Film Festival [9]
- Winner: Best Short - Zero Plus Film Festival[10]
- Winner: Special Award - Zero Plus Film Festival [11]
- Longlisted: Best British Short Film - BAFTA
- Finalist: Light In Motion Award for Best Drama - Foyle Film Festival
- Finalist: Best British Short Film - British Independent Film Festival {footnote}
- Nominated: Best Short Film - Norwich Film Festival
- Nominated: Best British Short Film, Best Lead Actor - James Cosmo, Best Supporting Actress - Ruby Royle, Best Production Design - Southampton Film Festival
- Finalist: Best Director, Best Composer - L.I.M.P.A London Film Festival
- Nominated: Best Film - Alicante Film Festival
- Nominated: Best Film - New Haven Film Festival
- Nominated: Best Film - Madrid Independent Film Festival
- Nominated: Best Film - Cinemagic Film Festival
- Nominated: Best Fiction Short Film - Picknic Film Festival
- Nominated: Best Film - Ciudad De La Linea Film Festival
References
- ^ "PORTOBELLO FILM FESTIVAL LONDON". www.portobellofilmfestival.com. Retrieved 2021-03-04.
- ^ Lee. "2021 Award Winners". Dam Short Film Festival. Retrieved 2021-03-04.
- ^ "Google Translate". translate.google.com. Retrieved 2021-03-04.
- ^ Olson, Chris (2018-12-18). "Forget Me Not short film". UK Film Review. Retrieved 2021-03-03.
- ^ Bradley, Jazmine Sky (2018-12-17). "Forget Me Not review: "An unforgettable, heartwarming story" [Indie Short Film]". critical popcorn. Retrieved 2021-03-03.
- ^ ruth (2019-01-24). "Short Film Spotlight: FORGET ME NOT + Q&A with director Nicholas Goulden & producer Angela Godfrey". FlixChatter Film Blog. Retrieved 2021-03-03.
- ^ Goulden, Nicholas (2019-11-16), Forget Me Not (Short, Drama, Family, Mystery), James Cosmo, John Heffernan, Ruby Royle, Louis Brodie, Keen City Productions, retrieved 2021-03-03
- ^ "PORTOBELLO FILM FESTIVAL LONDON". www.portobellofilmfestival.com. Retrieved 2021-03-03.
- ^ Lee. "2021 Award Winners". Dam Short Film Festival. Retrieved 2021-03-03.
- ^ "Zero Plus Film Festival (International Festival Of Films For Children And Youth) (2020)". IMDb. Retrieved 2021-03-03.
- ^ zeroplusff.ru http://zeroplusff.ru/news/1915/%7D. Retrieved 2021-03-03.
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|title=(help)