Over

"Over" directed by Jörn Threlfall, tells the tragic story of a man who falls to his death from an airplane in London, after hiding in the landing gear. The most compelling aspect of this short however, which is set over 9 static wide shots, is its detailing of the unfortunate sequence of events in reverse chronological order. This genius structural device leaves the viewer guessing (usually incorrectly) each step of the way. Right from the beginning, we are mislead into believing anything but the truth when, in the first shot, we see a a car being toed away and so assuming that there was a car accident, making the ending all the more impactful and shocking. The film is a puzzle, with fragments of information laid out for the viewer, like the flowers on the side of the road, the words "right and left ears" written on a sealed bag and the mysterious plane flying overhead in the second shot, leaving us to piece it together. Without a doubt, the reverse chronology of events is extremely effective; the audience reads into every minute detail and becomes utterly immersed in the mystery. And so when we are greeted with a body slamming to the floor from the sky, it is just that bit more stomach-wrenching.