Set against the lush, volatile backdrop of Spain during the Napoleonic Wars of 1810, Will Bashor’s AI-assisted historical short The Novice of Sitges, blends faith, fantasy, and impending violence. Written, directed, and produced by Bashor, the film follows Alejandro, a young monk torn between obedience and desire as war looms beyond the monastery walls. Haunted by visions and guided by the mythic power of Saint Michael, Alejandro’s search for freedom unfolds alongside an act of mercy when the monks rescue an abandoned, injured fisherman, Ramon. As the monks fear Ramon’s soul may be caught between good and evil, Alejandro is forced to confront his own spiritual fracture—one shaped by personal sacrifice, deep faith, and memories of a mother who left him to be raised by the order. Tempted by shadows of fire and darkness that challenge vows of chastity and subservience, Alejandro’s internal struggle mirrors the external threat of the advancing French army, pushing the film toward a cinematic reckoning that extends far beyond the monastery’s confines.
As a debut effort, Bashor’s direction demonstrates clear ambition, constructing a mythic fantasy within the brutal reality of the Napoleonic Wars. His use of AI as a production tool is particularly intriguing, enabling a broader ensemble of characters that enrich Alejandro’s spiritual journey and expand the film’s scope beyond what conventional resources might allow for a period drama. At times, the animation achieves striking realism, though it can also feel like a hybrid of motion capture and animated video, creating an uneven and occasionally disjointed presentation. Character eyelines often appear misaligned, and supporting performances—including voice-over work—can feel stiff or robotic, weakening emotional connection in key scenes. Technical execution more broadly suffers from rough editing, soft or unfocused close-ups, and inconsistent sound design, which challenge audience engagement and make the dense, layered narrative harder to follow.
Yet despite these hurdles, Bashor succeeds in crafting an eerie, immersive atmosphere steeped in religious and mythological symbolism. The predominantly black-and-white imagery conveys a ritualistic gravity, punctuated by vivid bursts of color and visceral sequences—clouds, wolves, and other animals imbued with supernatural overtones—that evoke the arcane spirituality of 19th-century monastic life. These haunting visuals hint at a strong directorial vision that, with tighter cohesion, and refined technical polish, could allow Bashor to fully realize a confident and compelling cinematic voice.
Ultimately, Bashor’s debut film The Novice of Sitges, suggests that while AI is still an evolving and imperfect tool, it can powerfully extend cinematic storytelling when harnessed to explore timeless themes of faith, war, and supernatural reckoning.
