Lucky Old Bag

A cute five-minute tale about a homeless lady of a certain age (some might say bag lady, some might say ageing Bohemian) who finds a penny on a street. What makes it more interesting is that the short is totally devoid of dialogue.

It’s a fairly straightforward piece, imbued with many quirky touches. A couple of the opening shots, for example, are seemingly shot through a bin. There’s also an apparently improvised Eastern European-influenced folk soundtrack. And the title of the short appears on the screen in an appealing way. All of which is particularly impressive when you consider the whole film, from concept to shoot was made in just 48 hours.

Things get a little unpleasant when the lady chooses to chance her luck in an expensive restaurant. What initially starts off as an apparent commentary on the British class system and snobbery, soon falls foul of its own satirical target, as the central character turns into a grotesque figure who munches her oysters with audibly disgusting glee.

However, things end on a cute note, and the film leaves a satisfyingly facetious taste in the mouth. Let’s hope Thomas Stark Holland goes onto bigger things.