You Are the Film

[Graeae Horror](https://linktr.ee/graeaehorror) Screened as part of my press coverage of Mayhem Film Festival. What to love A cleverly written script that weaves creativity and a unique perspective on multiverse storytelling Charming characters with effortlessly funny dialogue that feels natural The verdict When I hear multiverse I think sci-fi and overblown special effects. I didn’t expect this concept to be explored in a playful way, and that’s exactly what Makoto Ueda does. You Are The Film is his debut feature and a confident one at that. The script is well written, weaving creativity and charming characters into an unexpected situation with plenty of genuine, laugh out loud moments. The first half of this film follows Madoka and Kazuma as they try to navigate issues in their own lives, then the narrative flips into something completely unexpected, as their worlds collide. You can see the experimental nature and playfulness on display; nothing is forced and given time to breathe which an impressive accomplishment in just 68 minutes. In a program stacked with horror and dark sci-fi, this was a wonderful palette cleanser. If not for Mayhem I would not have thought to seek the film out but have been converted to a fan of Ueda and am excited to see what’s next for this wonderful filmmaker. For fans of River (2023) Everything Everywhere All At Once (2022) One Cut of the Dead (2017)