Day Release (2020) Palm Springs Short Film Festival

A young mother doing time in a Danish prison is given a day pass to visit her 3 year old son on his birthday. However what should be a happy occasion becomes a race against time since she realizes that her mother, who has custody of the child, is too sick to care for him and she has to find a place to keep him safe.

Perfectly modulated long short film kind of makes you wish that this were a feature until you realize that there really is no need. Everything we need to know is here, and one only needs to feel your heart break in the final bittersweet moments to know it's true.

If you want to know why this film has been winning awards and is qualified for an Oscar look no further than Anna Suk as Kathi, the mother desperate to keep her son safe. A full on soul crushing turn, this is the sort of thing that would get Suk an Oscar (full stop) if it were in in a feature film. Make no mistake Suk makes you feel everything and by the end you are exhausted from having your emotions played so much.

Currently playing at the Palm Springs Short Film Festival,  look for this to be in the Oscar mix next year.