SINGLE LENSE REFLEX

Description

Isolated and lost MARTHA (17) is failing art college, her SLR camera untouched for months. She's given one more chance - photographing her peers at Prom. Socially awkward, Martha reluctantly agrees. [Prom] As rain hammers down outside the sports hall, a flood of teens in suits and pastel dress push past Martha, ignoring her. Only (ex) best friend RIMA (18) agrees to be photographed, telling Martha she’s praying for the rain to stop. Martha retorts “Like a few months ago??” Rima’s hurt, reminding Martha about ‘the promise about the dress'. Martha's instantly angry, hiding behind the camera, firing off more shots, the flash leaving Rima blinking. After a bitter argument, Martha agrees to Rima going to her house. [Martha's House] Rima’s shocked to walk through empty rooms realising Martha is moving out, discovering Martha’s Mum’s room is untouched. Rima finds a vintage prom dress with a Polaroid of Martha and her Mum in hospital. We understand now, Martha is alone. [College] Martha puts the dress on, breaking down. She asks Rima to take her picture. They hold each other, soaking wet, reunited. As they watch everyone leaving Prom, Rima talks about the storm ending, as the rain hammers down.

Biblical Connection

"A huge storm came up. Waves poured into the boat, threatening to sink it. And Jesus was in the stern, head on a pillow, sleeping! They roused him, saying -Teacher, is it nothing to you that we’re going down?” Mark 4, 34-38 (The Message). The focus on this story is usually, unsurprisingly, the miracle at the end when Jesus commands the wind and waves to stop. But what happens if the storm doesn't abate? What happens if we feel completely alone when your world is ending? What happens to us when we believe - or someone we know - believes something so deeply, but nothing changes? We see a character (Rima) saying she’s praying, but Martha's situation doesn't seem to be helped. It's raining and she can't take photographs. What’s really interesting is that the physicality of the storm (the rain, the wind) drives the trauma for the disciples and they are utterly terrified, convinced they have been deserted. The paradox is that they are not alone - Jesus is still with them - but not taking action (sleeping!) the way they think he should. The key question: what happens when you you’ve been deserted but you're not alone?