echo

 echo (2013)

Introduction 

In the short film Echo, a young girl gets a call about her dad getting into an accident, which leads to devastating consequences. We learn later in the movie that this is a scam where the con artist offers the victim money in exchange for her travelling. We presume that this may be how she is coping with her father's passing or whether he abandoned her. 

The audience is left wondering what actually happened to her father, which makes the story unclear. She receives the same call at the beginning and the end of the story, making it recurrent. This implies that she is stuck in an endless downward spiral and has no intention of stopping anytime soon.

Caroline, our primary character, moves fluidly. She puts on a different show to attract the attention of people watching, but at home she comes across as empty and depressed. She mimics these feelings once more by acting as though she has actually received the call.

 

 

The general look of the film is dark and melancholic, matching the tone of the movie. Her initial call starts it all. The realistic effect of the street sounds is enhanced by diegetic sound. The sound of the phone ringing is clear and louder than the other noises.