Of all literary and cinematic genres, dystopia continues to be among the most popular and appreciated ones. However, the quality of a short film like ‘In One’s Right Mind‘ lies not only in the fact that it respects the premises of this genre, but also in its wonderful cinematic concretization signed by Charles Whiteley that throws us in the context of a brave new world as familiar as it is magnetic. Like any dystopia, this project is inspired by the madness of our contemporary world, depicting a society addicted to pills capable of offering them happiness. Of course, this happiness is just an illusion, since it hides other intentions orchestrated from the shadows by leaders who seem to condemn humanity to a widespread lobotomy. James is the only one who seems to be aware of this, but his efforts to understand the true essence of things are met not only with suspicion, but also with hostility. Dynamic and well-conducted towards its outcome, Charles Whiteley’s film seems rather the teaser of a more ambitious project, since it gives us the general coordinates of an Orwellian society, without pushing the protagonist to discover new nuances, the new ideologies of the consumerist world in which he is captive. However, in its current form, the project is well enough constructed to homogeneously materialize a strange and terrifying metaphor of a dehumanized world we seem to be unconsciously heading for.
Similar from a narrative point of view to Huxley’s classic novel or to other famous dystopias such as ‘The Giver’, Charles Whiteley’s short film enjoys a special aesthetic that brings this potential nightmare closer to the chromatic madness and the absurd camp of a Charlie Kaufman movie. Likewise, the deceptive atmosphere captured in frames and angles that explores the latent monstrosity of the characters is reminiscent of movies like Lynch’s ‘Inland Empire’. Thus, the director melts in his short film not only a series of literary references, but also certain cinematic styles combining into a product that is both strange and recognizable, in which the chromatic and the behavioural contrasts become a defining element. ‘In One’s Right Mind’ is a short film that even in this form still proves the director’s talent, the reason why it would be a pity if the potential of this dystopia film was not fully explored. Congratulations to the team, but we are still impatiently waiting for the feature version!
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