Film Review #016 - Translations (2023)

Translations (2023) is a debut Welsh romance drama directed by Keith Kopp that focuses on love between two people facing challenges with their mental health. The cast is an amazing up and coming talent Kate Morgan-Jones (The Pact, The Forfeit) and Alan Emrys (Young Wallander, Host).

The beginning of the film is really impressive. The camera rotates in a creative way, going from darkness to showing the whole scene. It sets a really interesting tone for the movie.


The movie stands out with its atmospheric instrumental music, which gives the film a mysterious and unforgettable feeling and vibe. The music in the movie, especially the calming piano songs, is important for setting the mood. However, sometimes the music is too loud and makes it hard to hear the dialogue. Adding subtle sound effects like crackling fire, boiling water, footsteps on sand, wind makes the film feel more genuine by connecting dialogues and monologues.


The sound mixing is good, but the sound effects could be a bit quieter. The sound quality of the dialogue sometimes sounds less polished. The Welsh accents of the actors make the film unique, yet at times it's hard to understand it. Nevertheless, the performances remind me of the raw and captivating style seen in Christopher Nolan's early work The Following (1998).


The movie's story, especially the middle part, is meaningful and profound. Sad and intense scenes with conflict and sorrow make the story more compelling, especially with an emotional soundtrack. The movie's visuals are basically in black and white; it creates a specific mood that matches its themes.


The camera work in this film is noticeable because it uses shaky-ish camera techniques a lot, which makes the film feel fragile character. However, it would have been nice to have a balance with more stable shots for variety and visual relief. Yet, towards the end of the movie, the camera becomes more stable while still giving a sense of movement, which works really well. The framing in the film sometimes varies, especially in medium and close-up shots, but overall it helps to express the artistic vision.


The film has subtitles which is a thoughtful approach for those who don't speak Welsh, yet I wish the subtitles would be placed consistently in the center and at the same level throughout different scenes. 


Overall, I'm impressed with the debut release. It's a great starting point and shows a lot of potential. The director did a great job finding his own artistic style and cinematic approaches in his first release. However, there is still much room for improvement and it will take time. Nevertheless, well done!


Rating: 7/10

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