Long Distance Information

A young man phones home on Christmas Day, to speak to his emotionally distant father. Aside from a bit of framing at the start, this film is relatively simple in its setting and dialogue. The phone call itself is pretty basic, and I guess fairly recognizable for many viewers with fathers of a certain generation. Small talk which even then is stilted and lacking in any connection to speak of.

In this simple frame, Peter Mullen is an important piece of casting; he convinces in the character but he also carries a lot of class with him – bringing stuff to the viewer than others may not have. This is particularly important in the close shot; on paper it is a punch- line ending which is comical, but the thoughts running across his face show us it is more than that, which means it does stick home a bit more than the fleeting jokey aspect may have done. Not an amazing short film that will blow you away, but well observed, acted, and with more substance in there than it appears at first glance.