When Grace (Flo Wilson) and Mido (Sayed Badreya) meet in a care home, their unlikely bond leads them down a path of self-discovery, thanks in no small part to the facility’s unique swimming pool that allows them to relive their past. Writer and director Yasmin Afifi blends artistry and sincerity, with a dash of the fantastical, in her BAFTA winning short film Jellyfish and Lobster, crafting an experience that is both utterly heartbreaking and utterly hopeful at the same time.
As one probably might assume, some of the core themes of Jellyfish and Lobster aren’t happy ones. Death is frequently deliberate. Grace is dealing with cancer, while Mido lives with Alzheimer’s, yet the filmmakers seem keen on painting these in a significantly more endearing light. At its core, the short is a celebration of unlikely friendships. Flo Wilson and Sayed Badreya make some bold choices in how they choose to portray their characters, with Wilson gradually shedding the character’s obtuse personality thanks to Mido’s warmth. It’s an on-screen pairing that viewers are likely to appreciate, not just for how it ends up but also for how it blossoms over time. Not to mention how rewarding it is to see them realize the magical parts of their connection.
Thankfully, the minds behind the visuals are more than up to the task of delivering on these aforementioned wonders. Linda Wu’s work behind the camera is, for lack of a better word, sublime. The underwater cinematography is most certainly impressive, but every other sequence is given just as much care and attention. A lot of modern films love the ever-popular desaturated, darker tone, but Jellyfish and Lobster make an excellent case for the exact opposite, which is a softer, more vibrant look that plays right into its borderline mystical plot.
Afifi’s screenplay is incredibly sharp, save for a handful of moments where the dialogue feels oddly out of place. Yes, the story relishes the almost supernatural nature of its premise and is quick-witted when it comes to humor, but the real-life implications remain omnipresent and rather bluntly presented. This delicate juggling act of bliss and tragedy is notoriously difficult to manage, and Afifi and company nail it with less than twenty minutes to work with.
Grounded and enchanting, Jellyfish and Lobster presents the best of both worlds as it eventually finds a meaningful message at the tail end of its characters’s lives. If you’re searching for a film that can make you both tear up and laugh at the same time, give this one a watch!
