My Best Nut

David Bradburn’s heartfelt My Best Nut is a tribute to bravery and selflessness – an inspired story of a man dealt an unimaginably tragic hand who uses his experience to try and make life better for those around him. It is peppered with touching moments, though lacks sufficient development or depth to excel as an all-round story.

Set almost entirely in a Chicago hospital, the film follows the travails of Jude (Jude Roche), a patient undergoing cancer treatment who has took on the mantle of the hospital’s resident court jester. Jude passes time between chemo telling jokes, dressing up and playing pranks on staff like Lori (Taylor Friend). As he senses his time may be limited, Jude abates feelings of bitterness and hopelessness with humour – and hopes his fellow patients can find solace in the same places he can.

My Best Nut is a film that seeks to show the positive impact one person can have on the world around them. Jude, despite his illness, is a force for good in the hospital – a beacon of humour and uplifting spirit who rubs off on those around him, despite many of them suffering from similarly serious illnesses. Some of the most moving moments in the film are the rare occasions Jude drops his façade and reveals himself as someone acutely aware of the gravity of his situation, demonstrating that his regular positive mood is in itself a show of strength and defiance. Similarly, scenes in which he is absent have a power in representing the depression that takes hold when he is not around. The film is in many ways a tribute to emotional leadership, and Jude’s role in the hospital is a touching demonstration of its power.

The film feels like it lacks a notable character arc for Jude, who is the focus of the short. For a twenty-minute runtime, some would argue this is unnecessary anyway – however given the time spent with the character, and the depth hinted at through his personality and suggested history, it feels like something of a missed opportunity. Jude is affable throughout the film – with a hidden sorrow that is revealed in a key scene. But his character feels formed by the story’s start, meaning there is not as much of a journey with him. More development occurs with supporting characters like Rick (Frederick J. Todd), a young man less accepting of his circumstance than Jude. But more of a hint of Jude’s story would have helped the narrative.

Jude Roche plays his namesake character as a hardened-yet-carefree man of individuality. A Chicago accent and unburdened nature suggest a working-class edge, yet his actions throughout the film are a mix of your best drinking buddy and a big kid. He convincingly portrays the role of someone with an infectious personality – and audiences will be easily convinced that Jude is the most popular guy in his ward. It is also what makes the idea of his loss such a painful thought.

There is a lot of heart in My Best Nut, even if as a standalone story it is a little lacking. Some genuinely funny moments mixed with a strong performance from Jude Roche, and some unconventional scene-staging (it’s opening chemo scene feels documentary-like) make the film an enjoyable, moving watch.