Premiering on the digital streaming platform My Cinema Hall on Friday, February 17th, burgeoning Filmmaker/Writer Vidal D’Costa’s short film “I Could Try to Carry On” has just begun its journey. At least cinematically. It is D’Costa’s second attempt at crafting a short narrative based around social issues after her first, “Airbrushed Beyond Recognition.” According to D’Costa, “I Could Try to Carry On” stemmed from a short, blank verse poem she wrote three years prior, titled “Bruised Battered and Bullied.” As the title suggests, the poem is about a character talking in the first person about her brutal experiences with bullying from classmates at school and online, as well as the toll of the same on her mental health.
In the 3 minute, 40 second short film, D’Costa strives to do something new, per her Press Kit. She seeks to play with colors, editing, and genres. In this short, she also tries her hand at visual storytelling. While the film does include a background voiceover, D’Costa states that “I Could Try to Carry On” works to highlight the silences in the background and using color to show her main character’s emotions.
On Inspirations and Social Messages
“I Could Try to Carry On” takes inspiration from both Filmmaker Taika Waititi (specifically from his penchant for visual storytelling and use of metaphors in works such as his debut “Eagle vs Shark” and the more recent “Thor: Love and Thunder”) and the then groundbreaking cinematography and color scapes from “The Wizard of Oz.”
Of course, the film’s true intention — according to D’Costa — is to bring to light the harm done by bullying (in-person, cyber), and to initiate a conversation about anti-bullying. What does that mean? Namely, being kind to your peers and a focus on standing up for yourself and dealing with the fallout — including the mental and the physical — that can last as a result of bullying.
Where to Watch
“I Could Try to Carry On” is available via YouTube, and also just had its international premier at ‘Liftoff First-Time Filmmakers Sessions’ (Pinewood Studios). Additionally, it had its Indian premiere at Kalakari Film Fest 2023 in Indore. It was also recently featured on the Sundance Collab website as part of their initiative to encourage young filmmakers. You can also stream the film on My Cinema Hall now, a streaming platform/digital theatre that distributes regional and English indie cinema at a minimal price.
Additional Information
You can find more information about the film in the following links. Also, follow The Movie Buff for more coverage and additional information about “I Could Try and Carry On” as the film reaches a wider audience.
We thank Vidal D’Costa for taking the time to inform us about her short film, and wish her luck with the festival circuit.
- https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-l7385g/i-could-try-to-carry-on/
- https://www.imdb.com/title/tt25814002/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0
You can also watch “I Could Try to Carry On” in the window below:
