The true test of a short film relies in its ability to communicate an insightful, well-structured message within a fraction of the time that a feature film has to play with. It is a triumph for any short film to reach this goal, but when a short demonstrates added prestige through considerate artistic design, cinematography, and an innovative storyline, I fall in love. And this quarter’s WICinema Film Club short film selection, The Tackle Box has me swooning to no end. The short film discloses two narratives around private subjects that many of us feel far too reserved to speak about – death and drugs. I know that after reading those words, you’re probably conjuring up images of almost every seedy cop drama ever created, but the intertwining stories of the film are unpredictable and are set in front of a pleasant and welcoming, lake-side backdrop. The film begins with the touching events revolving around an elderly man’s loss of his wife and favorite fishing partner. Soon after, the audience is plunged into the seedy operations center for a drug dealer, and then the film ends on one of the most offsettingly humorous yet heartwarming notes I’ve experienced from watching a film in a long while. Though film begins like almost any touching and archetypal film about love and companionship, the twists and bends that the film takes establishes The Tackle Box as anything but ordinary.

Aside from the original story, other components ensure that The Tackle Box is worth all the praise and stellar reviews that it has received. The inaudible atmosphere of the film coupled with a tender, yet somewhat arresting, storyline would prove difficult for any directing team, but the overall film is well composed and stunning to view. The somewhat surreal visual elements also break the film free from any molds that could limit it to being viewed as simply an arbitrary emotional piece. The responsibility for these lush cinematic components rely upon the inventive production duo Maria-White and Matthew Mebane (Charlie's Angels – Full Throttle), but the whimsical nature of the storyline can be attributed to writer Patti White, who penned “The Tackle Box” originally as a poem. This is the married couple’s first cinematic project together as the sole-production team, and their next film, Locker 13, is currently in the pre-production stage.

There is more than what meets the eye within The Tackle Box. It is an inspiring and gratifying film with a playful and almost unconventional demeanor. Truly, this short film brings new meaning to the notion that you carry a piece of someone you love with you, even after they’re long gone.