Stutterer

Stutterer is an emotionally profound 2015 British/Irish short drama that centers around the life of Greenwood, a young man dealing with a speech impediment. Matthew Needham gives an evocative performance as the lead character Greenwood, with Chloe Pirrie and Eric Richard delivering equally compelling performances. The film, written and directed by Benjamin Cleary, explores themes of love, loneliness, and communication in the age of digital interaction.

Greenwood is an introverted typographer who struggles with a harsh stutter, leaving him anxious and mute in almost all social situations. Despite his communication difficulties, Greenwood is an exceptionally intellectual individual with a love for words and their endless possibilities. His stutter causes him to lead a life of isolation, but it doesn't deter him from engaging in meaningful connections where he can. His rich inner life contrasts sharply with how he presents to the outside world due to his speech impediment.

In addition to his love for typography, he frequently solves anagrams online to pass time and challenge his mind. It is through this that he meets Ellie, played skillfully by Chloe Pirrie. For six months, they have been maintaining an online relationship, with Ellie completely unaware of Greenwood's stutter since their interaction has been purely textual. They have built a bond based on thoughtful and intelligent conversation, bringing warmth and companionship into Greenwood's otherwise quiet and solitary life.

When Ellie reaches out to meet Greenwood in person, a real test for Greenwood begins. The prospect fills him with both terror and excitement. How will he navigate through this situation given his crippling anxiety around verbal communication? Will he be able to confidently present his true self in front of Ellie? Can he face the fear of rejection due to his stutter or will he take the risk for possibly forging a genuine connection? These are the questions the film explores without unnecessarily melodramatizing the situation.

Eric Richard plays Greenwood's loving and understanding father. Their father-son relationship adds another layer to the film's emotional depth. The father has a compassionate understanding of Greenwood's struggle, and this dynamic beautifully complements the larger narrative.

The film's length, lasting for around 12 minutes, does not hinder it from delivering a compelling story. Within these few minutes, it manages to tell a human story full of suspense and emotional depth. The simplicity of the plotline allows it to shine a spotlight onto Greenwood’s internal struggles and his longing for human connection.

Stutterer excels in its delicate storytelling, smart dialogue, and purposeful silences that echo the struggles of its protagonist. Instead of solely focusing on Greenwood's stutter, it showcases his intellect, his emotions, and his humanity. It draws the audience into the sometimes unbearable frustration and sadness Greenwood feels, and the life he leads filled with silent shouts and unspoken words.

The cinematography is breathtakingly intimate, juxtaposed with a stirring original score to emotionally connect the audience to Greenwood's character. Benjamin Cleary's direction evokes the nuances of the story with a quiet, heartfelt elegance, artfully capturing the tribulations of a person living with a stutter.

Stutterer won the Academy Award for Best Live Action Short Film in 2016. Despite the competition, it stood out with its remarkably touching story, empathetic performances, and technical excellence. The film is a testament to Cleary's narrative storytelling capabilities, capable of crafting a heart-wrenchingly relatable and realistic story within a short amount of time.

In summary, Stutterer provides viewers with a profound exploration of human connection, struggles, and resilience through the life of its central character, Greenwood. It reminds us that communication is far more than just spoken words and that true understanding entails recognizing and accepting the entire person behind them. As much as it is a film about Greenwood's speech impediment, it's also a film about his courage, intelligence, and the universal human need for companionship. Its evocative story, poignant performances, and masterful direction make it a must-watch for anyone seeking a touching, and thought-provoking cinematic experience.