WWII Short Film: “The Return”

Click the photo to go to the short film “The Return,” created by a Polish filmmaker, about a soldier in WWII facing a crisis in his life. Apparently Polish soldiers were drafted into the German army. The actors are speaking Polish in the film; there are English subtitles, and the film is short and very watchable. It’s a meditative kind of film; it’s more about the impact of war on the human psyche than anything, with no shooting or battle scenes. For most of it, there are only two characters. But it has a cool twist that makes you think at the end. Who was the soldier’s benefactor?

This film was shot in the winter and filmed with a Canon XH-A1 HDV video camera. Color correction gives the film an interesting mood, much different from some recent WWII films with their high shutter speeds and fast-paced action. “The Return” definitely leaves a lasting impression. Great visuals, acting, pacing, as well as decent special effects, set this film apart. Be sure and read the comments underneath the video when you go to the Exposure Room page to watch it. I can’t embed Exposure Room videos here, but it’s better in this case since you would miss the director’s responses to comments underneath the video. You have to mouse over an icon to see the comments on Exposure Room’s website.

You might notice I haven’t updated this blog since Valentine’s Day of this year; I’ve been busy working on web video projects. I just recently purchased my first HD Video DSLR, a Canon Rebel T2i. You can see a video I shot with it on the WebVideo page of my BackpackCinema.com website. It has its limitations, but I’m really impressed with the quality of images I can get using the T2i and a prime lens.

I’ve also upgraded my production capability with a 2010 MacBook Pro, editing with Final Cut Studio and the new Adobe CS5 Creative Suite. Technology is advancing so fast! The production tools available right now are far beyond what I imagined would be possible just two years ago.

I’m looking forward to sharing some of the great short films and amazing imagery that is popping up weekly, shot with production gear you can fit in a backpack.

Please send me a note if you have any questions or requests for specific content. I want this blog to be an archive of great short form storytelling content; with the new DSLRs and software, anybody can make “movie quality” images, but quality storytelling will continue to be a highly sought-after skill that not just anyone can achieve without dedication, hard work, talent, great teamwork, and vision.