Written and directed by Sarah Klearman, Oliver (Blake Copeland) is an avid kite collector, who can only walk backwards, until one day has an unexpected encounter that shifts the course of his direction.

There’s an immediately sweet atmosphere to Backwards, it has that classically American, light-hearted and slightly cheesy vibe. Sarah Klearman’s directorial style has that bouncy, colourful and quirky feel. It has a sense of adventure, with a touch of childhood innocence and curiosity. The whole air has a family friendly feel, it’s very wholesome. Adding home-video style footage was a great idea to provide a more personal edge.

For this story to work, you definitely need to put aside any questions, it’s a use your imagination and just go with the flow deal. Undoubtedly you will have many questions about why Oliver can only walk backwards but those will only hinder you from enjoying the film, you have to suspend your disbelief. It can be a touch silly at times and it’s a shame not to see the comedy side of things play into it more. It feels as though it’s focused on the destination and not making the most of the journey, to help give things a quicker pace and push the foundation of its high energy even further.

Blake Copeland’s performance feels like it portrays Oliver with an accessible and fun kind of weird. He’s unusual but not so much that he approaches unhinged, that wholesomeness keeps him in the kindly and sweet arena. It can lean towards the saccharine, with his dialogue being so very limited, it could almost have been turned into a silent film, meaning it’s tricky to get a handle on his larger personality.

Backwards is a sweet adventure and has the tone of a romantic comedy condensed into ten minutes. It has a very light energy and wholesome atmosphere, and it brings through plenty of colour. Copeland’s performance captures the same air, it’s playful and sunny. It’s a charming idea and it works but it’s missing that bigger note of comedy to round it out.

Verdict: ✯✯✯ | 6/10