The Death of The House Party

The night before they set off for university, a group of youths contemplate their lives and the future.

This short drama is a story that takes place at a time when a bunch of youngsters are facing the fact that their lives are about to change significantly, primarily because it is the last day before they (most of them) go to university.

The narrative pretty much revolves a round a house party that is taking place in order to mark the fact that the attendees are going to university and moving on. The house is Tommy's (Owen) and among the guests are his friends Colin (Rowan), Mikey (Cowin), Kacy (McKenzie) and Frankie (Murphy). Tommy's parents are away and he decided to throw the party even though he is forbidden. As the night goes on, he and his friends struggle to come to terms with the complications that are entering their lives.

Through the characters, particularly Tommy, Colin and Mikey, the film explores the emotions that youths tend to deal with when they become aware their lives are about to go through significant turning points. Tommy is rather anxious that his girlfriend Anna (Miller) is in the process of breaking up with him as she did not attend the party and is not responsing to his messages. Mikey is worried that he will not fin in at university and he has a secret crush on Kacy. Would now be the time to tell her? And Colin, as he is not going to uni, feels that he is being left behind. Apparently, unmotivated, he uses drugs and lives with his brother. Through these characters and their issues, the film looks into a variety of themes that include self-reflection, the anxiety of facing life-changing events like university, moving away from loved ones, worrying about the future, romance and alienation. Frankie stands out as a different kind of individual, a sort of wise dude that others go to for advice and indeed, he does come across as quite mature.

People who are about to go to university or the ones who are there now or have been in the past are probably the ones who will indentify with this short the most. More that anything, this film is a story about facing big changes in life and about friendship and support. It is a thoughtful viewing and it is supported by the strong acting, the beautiful cinematography by Cameron Brown and a good selection of songs by The Kowloons and Reignmaker.