Plymouth Theatre Review

overall rating: 4

Presented as part of Plymouth Universities Mayfest, Coco Bond’s 40-minute film proved to be a confident, well-executed and well-made film entirely befitting of this festival. It stood as a complete and engaging cinematic work. Initially introduced on the title board as a “preview screening,” I took that on board and prepared for a not quite complete piece of work – but I was wrong! What ensued was a fully complete film that felt far more polished than the title suggested, with a clear narrative arc, considered visual composition, and effective storytelling throughout. A truly worthwhile piece that not only told it’s story but entertained me for the forty minute duration.

The screening attracted a larger audience than earlier festival events, creating a lively atmosphere. Pre-show music contributed positively to the mood and I really enjoyed this. However, the extended verbal introduction—particularly technical references not relevant to all viewers—could have been streamlined to allow the work to speak for itself. While the introduction to the leading actors was fine, I don’t really do computers so all the stuff about keycodes slid straight over my bald plate! While I do not hail myself as a film critic (theatre is my thing!) I do have some knowledge of film production and can appreciate the amount of work that goes into the preparation, shooting and editing. Bearing this in mind there must have been a huge amount of work put into this project and for that alone creator Coco Bond deserves a medal.

The film explores the emotional terrain of a relationship in decline—a theme frequently visited in student and independent cinema and a theme that is close to a lot of young people’s hearts. It was handled here with sincerity and thoughtful pacing. There were times when l felt that the script was just a tad repetitive but while some elements of the script verged on repetition, the central emotional journey remained accessible and relatable.Technically, the project demonstrated a commendable level of production effort. There were moments where lighting could have been more consistently designed, and the time shifts within the edit occasionally created momentary confusion. However, given the scope and duration of the film, the editing was largely effective, and the overall cohesion of the piece stood out. The work clearly reflects significant investment in pre-production, performance direction, and post-production.

While not without room for refinement, this film is a considerable achievement for a student filmmaker. Coco Bond shows clear promise as a storyteller and director, with strong instincts for tone and pacing. With further development, especially in visual design and narrative economy, Bond’s future work could be even more compelling. This film was a huge achievement and well deserving of praise!