Little Pieces
As with any independent film, it’s always good to applaud their work. It’s always good to applaud anyone who ventures into film because it’s a lot of hard work but that’s moot here as independents has little to no budget when creating film. Independent filmmakers do it for passion and they’ll assemble what they can and who they can in order to create something lurking in their brain because it bugs them not too. Here in Little Pieces, whilst it struggles to find footing until the second half but director and writer Adam Nelson’s effort has a lot more to offer than bigger blockbusting dramas.
Little Pieces revolves around two men struggling to gain a balance in their lives. As they run through their issues, they have set events that will cause their lives to collide with a mighty big bang. With a lot of issues mounting, the pair of seemingly separate men could see their whole worlds come crashing violently down…
There is a lot of potential here that sometimes falters on tiny, ironically, little pieces that flaws the films. I’m going to get this niggle out of the way first so I can carry on properly picking at the bigger problems of the film, extras. Now, it may seem like I’m poking at something unimportant but on a story with so many locations, extras are important. It seems as though Little Pieces is set in a post-apocalyptic Britain. If there were a few more bodies populated the background, it would’ve centred this film in a bit more realism and tension.
Little Pieces also struggles with acting and script. Leads Finnian Nainby-Luxmoore and Isabelle Glinn shine as a couple pulled together by circumstance and their story unfolds well enough to invest, despite awkward footing at the beginning. Matt Jones and Graham Cawte are tentative and enthralling as father and son pulled apart and together by the former’s alcoholism. They aren’t all accomplished thespians but they all develop enough talent and intrigue. Everyone except Peter Oliver as security guard Jerry whose performance is so ludicrously over the top. His stiff, shouting delivery of dialogue detracts from the sensitive issues bellowed from his lips and the play takes you back into that amateur atmosphere that the others try hard to work around.
Similarly, the script sometimes feels forced or plodding at parts. Certainly, the second half of the film is a lot better than the first as the writing and direction comes into its stride as parallel stories collide. However, it takes a long time to find a voice. The beginning is a little sloppy and it’s slow burn start is detrimental if you didn’t know it gets better. Other than that, the story is interesting - especially when the two lead men mirror one another in narrative. The themes are present, strong and developed enough to entice you in ultimately.
Nevertheless, this is a valiant effort that works because of the hard work of everyone involved. Whilst some moments may be jarring, Adam Nelson’s independent effort has a lot going for it. There’s a lot of potential with the filmmakers that will flourish with a little bit more honing as they continue down their cinematic path. This may be a wonky step but it finds placing.
Little Pieces is making it’s way around festivals.
Make sure you check it out.