Writer/director and actor Ryan Nunes’ journey has been one to watch, from his deeply personal debut in After the Beep to more complex thematic explorations in A Beautiful Day. What we have ultimately seen is a multifaceted filmmaker evolve consistently in his craft—expanding the scope of his works while retaining their emotional nuance. And with his 19-minute short film Drowned, we get something that reflects that exact sentiment.
Drowned finds Sarah (Sonya Richards), a newly single mother fighting personal demons while trying to raise her daughter, Emma (Julia Little). Her relationship with ex-husband Jake (Ryan Nunes) remains cordial but prone to outbursts of anger when her grief renders her incapable of aiding Emma—the girl’s epipen not being refilled, a repeat issue raised by Jake. Therapist meetings with Julie (Andrea Borges) seem to be pointing Sarah in the right direction, but both she and Jake drift further apart and risk losing themselves and Emma in the process. The question then being, can they pull it back from the brink, not just for their sake, but for their daughters too?
There are no easy situations in Nunes’ latest which was co-written with Julien Elliot. For Sarah, every interaction and every choice she makes seems to set her back, at least in her mind. She undervalues herself as a person and a mother but deep down still wants what’s best for Emma. Jake comes from a different perspective, his temper getting the best of him in front of his child on multiple occasions. Nunes has established himself as a gifted actor and truly shines when surrounded by a cast with standout performances from the likes of Richards and Little. Nunes’ ability to create and develop flawed but relatable characters is as strong as ever, and it’s what viewers are likely to connect with the most: non-stereotypical, authentic folk who argue, make up, argue again, and try their hardest to do good to the best of their abilities.
The camerawork, production design, and music are all top-notch. The opening tracking shot brilliantly paints a picture of a fracturing family behind not-so-closed doors, and when we catch up with Sarah a year later, it’s evident she’s fallen on hard times. Her house no longer feels like home but a prison of sorts that’s a far cry from the warm Christmas vibes she once enjoyed. The color-coding is strong, with overcast gray skies laying the groundwork for sun-kissed playgrounds to appear later. This is definitely the best Nunes’ work has looked and sounded, courtesy of Director of Photography Ethan DeAguiar and composer Nick Bernat.
Raw and real while also remaining deeply engaging, Ryan Nunes bats a home run with Drowned.
