The Thief

8/10 dropps

This years Florida Film Festival (April 8th-16th) doesn’t consist solely of feature length films, which may be a common misconception. Many nights and viewings are dedicated to the lost art of the short film, many of which are worth spending a few dollars to check out, seeing as many of these directors are the up-and-comers in the movie game. The Thief is one of those films worth catching at this year’s festival.

The Thief tells the story of an odd encounter between a soon to be housewife and the man invading her home. As the hard-on-luck duo fumble through their encounter, we learn that there is more at play than a simple snatch and run occurring; but rather a story of caring woman and a desperate man.

Co-written and directed by Rachel Weisz, The Theif marks the directorial debut of Weisz and a possible bright future behind the lens rather than in front of it. Weisz, who is better know for her roles in movies such as The Mummy, The Fountain, or The Constant Gardener, shows a inspired vision with her debut; producing a strong, touching, and surprisingly emotional work that rings in just over fourteen minutes in length.

Taking the lead roles in this short gem are Joel Edgerton (Joel/ The Robber) and Rosemarie DeWitt (Rosemarie). Joel Edgerton, whom you may recognize from 2010’s Aussie crime drama Animal Kingdom, plays the confounded home invader with ease, giving a grand performance of a man trapped in circumstance. DeWitt (Rachel Getting Married, Cinderella Man) plays Edgerton opposite, and too shines in her performance of a woman pulled in all directions.

The short film is perhaps the most overlooked and underappreciated art in Hollywood today. Many of these films playing at this years Festival may not be feature length, but that does not mean they do not hold up as much weight on screen. More often than not a short will be more direct and to the point to the viewer due to its limitations in time, in the case of The Thief these ideas ring true. The Thief is highly recommended if you are looking for something short to get lost in during this years Festival.

-Hunter Freiburg