3 reviews
Anyone can encounter the threat of combustion if submerged in fiery pressure for an extended period - something made all the more tragic when the situation is of their own making and could so easily be escaped with a hard look in the mirror.
Sometimes, as they say, you are your own worst enemy.
In Bigi Jackson's debut short movie, Rochelles, we're introduced to Stanton (Jessie Howland), a chef whose life has become a pressure cooker ticking away to breaking point.
On a mission to climb the ladder of success, obsessed with crafting "the dish" and isolating himself from those around him, save for his friend and voice of reason, Gary (Brandon Bales), a fellow chef at the restaurant where they work, Stanton has fallen victim to the classic recipe for disaster: chasing perfection.
Jackson explores with deliciously rich layers whether anybody can achieve perfection, no matter how skilled or deserving, but also whether perfection is worth striving for, especially if there is a steep price to pay in the pursuit.
In the story, Stanton, bordering on paranoia and at war with external forces that threaten to halt progress that he calls "the enemy", commits himself to crafting the perfect art in the form of food as he and Gary are pitted against each other to win the coveted position at Rochelles restaurant.
The delicacies the chefs whip up and discuss are used as metaphors by Jackson, who wrote the script, to critique art in all its forms and the public consumption of it.
The philosophy the film argues is that art should never be taken seriously to the point it consumes the artist, as at the end of the day, those who will feast on it - in this case with it being food - will ultimately be ready for the next course without a second's thought for what they've just gorged on, never caring enough to consider that maybe the creator's blood, sweat and tears were amongst the ingredients.
There's also, at least in my interpretation, a dig at the rise of poor-quality entertainment due to the fast-food-like convenience offered by online streaming. This is a testament to the cleverly handcrafted tapestry Jackson weaves into the tapestry, welcomingly inviting the viewer to rely purely on their mind's taste buds and ponder what's really being ingested.
A bubbling, uncomfortable tension permeates throughout the 40-minute runtime, and it never lets up until the cooker that both chefs are standing atop explodes, which I shan't spoil with details.
By the end, the film establishes that should one lose, they can still gain something, and should the competitor emerge victorious and be lifted upon a pedestal they've earned, it doesn't mean they belong there.
At its core, Rochelles is a thematically deep cautionary tale, depicting rifts forming and wounds opening, psychologically and physically, all in the pursuit of greatness that is, like art, ultimately subjective. It's a profound exploration of the sacrifices for greatness. It delves into the psychological toll and personal sacrifices on the quest for perfection and questions the value of societal accolades versus personal fulfilment, critiquing the societal obsession with success and encouraging viewers to reflect on what truly matters in life.
It's clear through camera techniques and the script Jackson may be following up on his legendary father's advice: study the greats and become greater. If this is only the starter course of his career, then I can't wait to see what he prepares next.
Sometimes, as they say, you are your own worst enemy.
In Bigi Jackson's debut short movie, Rochelles, we're introduced to Stanton (Jessie Howland), a chef whose life has become a pressure cooker ticking away to breaking point.
On a mission to climb the ladder of success, obsessed with crafting "the dish" and isolating himself from those around him, save for his friend and voice of reason, Gary (Brandon Bales), a fellow chef at the restaurant where they work, Stanton has fallen victim to the classic recipe for disaster: chasing perfection.
Jackson explores with deliciously rich layers whether anybody can achieve perfection, no matter how skilled or deserving, but also whether perfection is worth striving for, especially if there is a steep price to pay in the pursuit.
In the story, Stanton, bordering on paranoia and at war with external forces that threaten to halt progress that he calls "the enemy", commits himself to crafting the perfect art in the form of food as he and Gary are pitted against each other to win the coveted position at Rochelles restaurant.
The delicacies the chefs whip up and discuss are used as metaphors by Jackson, who wrote the script, to critique art in all its forms and the public consumption of it.
The philosophy the film argues is that art should never be taken seriously to the point it consumes the artist, as at the end of the day, those who will feast on it - in this case with it being food - will ultimately be ready for the next course without a second's thought for what they've just gorged on, never caring enough to consider that maybe the creator's blood, sweat and tears were amongst the ingredients.
There's also, at least in my interpretation, a dig at the rise of poor-quality entertainment due to the fast-food-like convenience offered by online streaming. This is a testament to the cleverly handcrafted tapestry Jackson weaves into the tapestry, welcomingly inviting the viewer to rely purely on their mind's taste buds and ponder what's really being ingested.
A bubbling, uncomfortable tension permeates throughout the 40-minute runtime, and it never lets up until the cooker that both chefs are standing atop explodes, which I shan't spoil with details.
By the end, the film establishes that should one lose, they can still gain something, and should the competitor emerge victorious and be lifted upon a pedestal they've earned, it doesn't mean they belong there.
At its core, Rochelles is a thematically deep cautionary tale, depicting rifts forming and wounds opening, psychologically and physically, all in the pursuit of greatness that is, like art, ultimately subjective. It's a profound exploration of the sacrifices for greatness. It delves into the psychological toll and personal sacrifices on the quest for perfection and questions the value of societal accolades versus personal fulfilment, critiquing the societal obsession with success and encouraging viewers to reflect on what truly matters in life.
It's clear through camera techniques and the script Jackson may be following up on his legendary father's advice: study the greats and become greater. If this is only the starter course of his career, then I can't wait to see what he prepares next.
- smitherhands
- Feb 12, 2024
- Permalink
Wow for short film I was genuinely impressed by this. To my understanding, the writer/producer is in their early 20's, and a FIRST film. As the daughter of a weekend screenplay writer and published author, I saw in this film...a lot of depth and substance!
I watched the film with the English subtitles as I was watched late at night /early early morning and didn't want to disturb the rest of the family.
All the screenplay " In parenthesis " were SPOT ON. The writer totally 120 percent got that part correct! I hope I described that correct.
Even the small music parts with the strings as a background ( I was in orchestra in school ) were perfectly matched !
I will say that I truly enjoyed this and I am definately recommending this to friends and family! Thank you to the writer - you are pretty awesome, I am looking forward to watching your future productions!
Kathy in Texas.
I watched the film with the English subtitles as I was watched late at night /early early morning and didn't want to disturb the rest of the family.
All the screenplay " In parenthesis " were SPOT ON. The writer totally 120 percent got that part correct! I hope I described that correct.
Even the small music parts with the strings as a background ( I was in orchestra in school ) were perfectly matched !
I will say that I truly enjoyed this and I am definately recommending this to friends and family! Thank you to the writer - you are pretty awesome, I am looking forward to watching your future productions!
Kathy in Texas.
- kayserkathyk-70832
- Feb 15, 2024
- Permalink
This was the best short film I've ever seen, and I can't take my words back. I think he's done well on his first short film, and I'm looking forward into seeing more of it. Just curious to know if this was based on a true story, because for me it's very realistic. I've heard about fights in restaurants, about who's the best cook. Bigi is definitely one creative director, and mindful of what he puts together. He is very professional, smart, and an innovator. I feel like Bigi can be a big dreamer when it comes to creating anything that goes on the screen/TV, I see a lot of passion and excitement. In his younger days he talked a lot about making movies, and didn't only stop there. He actually made videos at home with his family/ friends, and placed alot of effort into it. Wishing him the best in all future endeavours, I believe in Bigi.
- LatchmieGeer
- Sep 18, 2024
- Permalink