Written and directed by Will McConnell, three teenagers cycle around Belfast at night, talking about what they would do if they had three magic wishes. Starring: Ellie McIvor, Tia Parker and Michael Townsley.
Capturing an authentic youthfulness and sweetness is no easy task but that’s exactly what you get with Three Wishes. For an eleven-minute short, that’s already a great foundation but Will McConnell has more in store, there’s then excellent layers of different emotions. One that stands out in particular is how McConnell deals with JP’s (Tia Parker) unrequited feelings for her best friend Ciara (Ellie McIvor). It’s such a common experience for young queer people and it’s dealt with in a sensitive and compassionate manner here which is great to see.
Part of building that kindness to its atmosphere is the aesthetic, there’s a sunset tinged feel as soon as it opens which adds an edge of warmth and charm, with a touch of romance. Then as Three Wishes moves forward, it builds on those layers to the story, adding in complexities and a feel of longing. Although it does feel as though Michael Townsley’s Jordan doesn’t feed into that as strongly as the others, creating more infighting between them that can throw off the tone. The film is at its strongest when it’s focusing on that friendship between Ciara and JP, it unwraps a wide range of touching emotion and has a lot more to say.
One of the elements that pushes the complexity that Three Wishes has to offer is the performance from Tia Parker. The presence she brings immediately has a thoughtfulness and complicated edge, she communicates the confusion, envy and sadness extremely well. Whereas Ellie McIvor’s Ciara initially feels familiar and easy-going but slowly reveals that there’s much more at play. Her key moment arrives at the very end of the film, finishing things with a strong note of conflict. She fills the final scenes with a compelling portrayal, without ever really needing to say a word.
Three Wishes wanders through the joys and obstacles of youth, from being reckless and spirited, to complicated feelings, consequences and responsibilities. It’s shot well to match its aesthetic to the evolving emotions of the story, and Will McConnell deserves a lot of credit for making that night setting work in the film’s favour, which can be very difficult to do naturally. The performances are layered and have a lot to offer, which is especially impressive given how early in their careers Ellie McIvor and Tia Parker are.
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