SNAPSHOT
Stop/Eject is a magical and moving fantasy drama starring Georgina Sherrington (The Worst Witch) and directed by Neil Oseman, dubbed “The Spielberg of Hereford” by The Guardian. It premiered at Raindance in 2014, and in 2015 was long-listed for a Bafta and won the Best Drama Short award at the Underground Film Festival in Ireland.Kate (Sherrington) is devastated when her husband Dan (Oliver Park) is killed crossing the road outside a charity shop. But inside the shop is a mysterious old tape recorder, which Kate discovers has the power to stop and rewind time itself. Meeting the enigmatic shopkeeper Alice (Therese Collins), Kate is introduced to a vast underground library of cassettes – the whole of time, divided into 90 minute segments. Which tape will she choose? And can she save her husband?
Life, as know, can be quite heartless.
For all the good and happy memories, and if we’re blessed there are many, it can also take more than it gives, and we are left grieving, unable to make sense of what we’ve lost, or work out where to go from here.
It’s one of these heartbreaking situations, where time seems more an enemy than a friend, that confronts Kate after her beloved husband Dan is killed unexpectedly and she is left to confront a life without him.
But what, asks Stop/Eject, if there was a way back from the emotional abyss? What if time, and hence life, could be made to dance to your tune and not the other way around?
What then? What would you do with that kind of possibility at your finger tips?
Or is that even possible? And should you use it even if it is?
It’s an intriguing, deeply-affecting series of ideas that Stop/Eject uses beautifully to convey the agony of loss and possibility of hope and love renewed, as these reviews make clear:
“Sherrington steals the show with an emotional performance of the highest merit. Well-written, well-executed, and a genuine pleasure to watch.” The London Film Review
“It’s rare to see such love towards a heroine, consideration for her pain, honesty and respect towards a short film’s audience. A charming, fairytale-like film with a gentle, sad, but noteworthy message.” Unsung Films
“A very strong, powerful film… A great emotional performance by Georgina Sherrington.” The Final Cut
“It’s a beautiful short film that deals with very real and raw emotions, and does so in a classy and inventive way.” Forest City Short Film Review
It’s impossible to watch Stop/Eject without being deeply touched and you’ll no doubt feel the urge to go and hug everyone you know over and over while there’s still time.
Because as we know all too well, time-controlling tape players are few and far between, and even if they were, perhaps life simply needs to be lived on its own terms, heartache and all.