Not Forgotten Yet Short Film Review

★★

Directed by: #JohnMcDonald

Starring: #TheAnimalsofShetlandRescue, #Sarah

Short Film Review by: Alexandra James

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This short documentary is about a small farm for animals who have either been abused, abandoned or are just unable to perform as they once could. Not Forgotten Yet shows the struggles Sarah, the owner of the farm, must face and her duty to take care of the animals and make sure they are safe, well fed, healthy as well as focus on the overall upkeep of the farm. It is a difficult lifestyle to adopt, and this documentary allows us to see the daily labours and how Sarah has managed to help so many animals.

The farm seemed very quiet although there were a few animals who managed to make an appearance in the documentary, poking their heads out the stalls to say hello! Sarah looks after a variety of animals, from all different homes and backgrounds. Chickens, horses, pigs and many more, it was lovely to see that the animals were all together, none of them were isolated or alone in their pens. This was heart-warming to witness, as a lot of the animals had either been mistreated or neglected, so there was a sense of family, and the animals were happy enough to stick together.

As a documentary, it is always best to project an honest representation of the theme or subject you are speaking on. This documentary highlighted the good with which the owner, Sarah was able to produce but it also showed that she was struggling with the amount of work and dedication which is required to be able to keep the farm ticking over. It would have been beneficial to have an interview style documentary, in which the audience can see Sarah clearly and her interaction and emotional responses to the questions being asked. Of course, it was great to see there were clear shots of the farm itself and the animals which are being cared for. However, the farm would not have come into being without Sarah there to build it and get the message out of the good that they can provide. At the end of the day, she seemed to be the driver, source of dedication and hard work which is put into the farm day in and day out, so allowing her that voice and showing her face would have really elevated the documentary and shown the audience what commitment really looks like.

Unfortunately, this is what made the documentary very simplistic. Narration combined with an interview style, as well as interaction with the animals would have made for a more moving piece and really would have the audience become much more invested in Sarah’s story and the farm. Nevertheless, this was a great way to promote the kindness and message for The Animals of Shetland Rescue, that no animal is left behind or ever forgotten.