“Eternal Mind,” is an independent short written, directed, and starring Ashley Nicole. It follows an immortal boy in a post apocalyptic world as he comes to terms with being the only constant in an ever-changing world.
The short film opens up with a sequence of powerful imagery exploring nature and the planet we live on. The film sets a mysterious tone from the start and through the narrator we learn that everyone else is gone. The planet is constantly changing; however, its people can’t die. They have lived for a thousand lives and will continue to live for a thousand more. The short asks questions about life from an almost existentialist point of view, but notes that perhaps the only purpose is to enjoy life in the present moment. “Eternal Mind” comments that there is an abundance of beauty around us if only we can stop to appreciate it.
The cinematography works well with the piece and is incredibly striking; especially when juxtaposed with the forlorn feeling we sometimes get from the central character- the narrator. They have a longing to achieve the one thing they cannot do—to die and return to the planet. “Eternal Mind” contained a number of beautiful shots. They show the raw beauty of the world we live in and accentuate the things the narrator is talking about.
For example, the opening of the film shows footage of the wind blowing through trees, which underlines the themes of loneliness, longing, and nature that pervade the story. Although the narrator can’t have the one thing they want perhaps, there are still things to appreciate about the world—a message we can all learn from. There’s also a poignant shot towards the middle of the short which shows a Coca-Cola bottle cap in the dirt. It highlights the wreckage humans can sometimes leave in their wake and leaving us with a memory of times past. In spite of all of this is still a sense of appreciation for the world and a feeling of hope.
Ashley Nicole in “Eternal Mind.” Photo: via screengrab, © Ashley Nicole.
The soundtrack’s a mixture of electronic music, vocals, and guitar that works wonderfully with the overall aesthetic of the piece. All of it comes together to aid in the air of mystery while accentuating the feelings the narrator is projecting and sparking a sense of positivity and longing in the viewer. Bedroom—who provided the soundtrack—have done an excellent job in assisting with the storytelling and creating emotions within the viewer.
“Eternal Mind’s” story is non linear, which can be confusing for some viewers. It would have been nice to have more story exposition and background information on the character and the world they live in as we aren’t given many details about it. Likewise, it would have been great to explore these ideas further and find out what happened to everyone else on the planet as well as discover what is going to happen to the central character next. The film doesn’t give viewers a solution to the plight of the narrator. Here Ashley Nicole leaves the film open, which may jar with some viewers but which others may thoroughly enjoy.
Despite all of this, “Eternal Mind” boasts some great cinematography along with a brilliant soundtrack that underpins an interesting idea. One that is engaging, thought provoking, and interesting to watch.
*”Eternal Mind” is available to watch on YouTube by clicking here.
