Written and directed by Franz Böhm and co-written by Ivan, Ivan and his father operate a makeshift hospital at the frontline of war, but when enemy soldiers close in, Ivan faces an impossible choice to protect his father, their patients, and everything they stand for. Starring: Oleksandr Rudynskyi, Serhii Kalantai, Sebastian Anton, Yuri Radionov, Oleksandr Yatsenko and Oleksandr Begma.
Franz Böhm and cinematographer Hsien Yu Niu immediately set the tone for Rock, Paper, Scissors with a sincere weight and compelling air. The quality of the aesthetic right off the bat sets the atmosphere ablaze with emotion and the pressure of conflict. Another element that’s done exceptionally well is the lighting, working in such a cramped setting without natural light, it’s always a delight to see the visual really capture the texture and detail, which they do superbly here. That then truly feeds into the atmosphere to take its depth even further.
All of which does its part to create the excellent tension that runs throughout Rock, Paper, Scissors. It’s gripping as the writing does such a fantastic job of capturing the treacherous, potentially fatal nature of the situation. Portraying how much hangs in the balance and how thin of a thread they’re hanging by. As well as how much Ivan and his father are putting on the line to help the others in their community. It’s a moving story, and of course even more so knowing that their bravery comes from real life experiences. It adds an extra emphasis on the cruelty, suffering and pain that so many face. On top of capturing how there are some who use war as an excuse to inflict pain for their own enjoyment.
Without a doubt, another element which takes that even further is the performance from Oleksandr Rudynskyi. You couldn’t really ask for anymore out of him, it’s a perfect portrayal, he leads the short effortlessly, he’s relatable and determined. There’s such a grounded quality to Rudynskyi’s performance, you can see how hard he’s trying to keep things together, even when he has limited experience or knowledge. Trying to forge a way forward, risking his own safety for the sake of others, it’s affecting and engrossing.
Rock, Paper, Scissors is an impressive short film, with a truly excellent leading performance and a stellar visual. It’s shot incredibly well, to not only be visually very satisfying but to also feed into the emotional, tense nature of the story. The atmosphere is dense with conflict and heroism, making it flawlessly engaging. It has some unexpected turns to bring to the story which are really interesting to watch. It’s a strong example of both the everyday heroes in warzones, as well as the casual cruelty and how it can be a playground for sadists.
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