"Shovel"

26 September 2024

3 mins 30s

Not digging it

Daniel Lundh’s short film series ‘Daft Atoms’ continues with an indeed daft addition, but also a kind of serious one, in the way humour is best done. As a couple sit in their car discussing whether one of them did or did not check their destination address properly (he didn't), the conversation turns to that classic mix of gender roles and farmer’s preferred hats.

Amidst their arguing they suddenly notice a man with a shovel standing on the side of the road.

Their need for directions is trumped by their fear of ending up in a ditch in the surrounding countryside somewhere, and they eventually drive off, leaving a baffled shovel man to continue digging in peace.

Director and writer Daniel Lundh plays the (probably) creepy shovel man, and Harry Harrington and Poppy Allen-Quarmby the couple, with a seamlessly natural performance by the latter. So far Lundh has covered the unbearable nature of modern dating in the short ‘Hearts & Aubergines’ and this film touches on masculinity and womens’ general everyday fear of violence from men. What small and insignificant topic will he turn the camera on next we wonder?

UK

Short Film