A Nice Walk

Description

All Connor wants is a nice walk. A quiet hilltop hike to clear his head. Sister Sam didn’t get the memo. With her dinosaur costume, unscheduled toilet stops and endless talking, she’s getting on his nerves. So when an annoyingly inquisitive Stranger gatecrashes their walk, Connor is ready to explode. But The Stranger’s oddly familiar personality makes the siblings reveal why they’re arguing. It’s about their brother Jamie. He died suddenly in Australia. They couldn’t say goodbye. They miss him, and his terrible jokes, but express it in different ways. They feel lost. The Stranger, suddenly wise, explains grief isn’t something you “get over” but move through. It’s a journey; one best not attempted alone. His words bring them peace, but also clarity; they haven’t been there for each other. They reach the beautiful, breathtaking hilltop. But The Stranger wanders off; he has somewhere to be. They urge him to stay; it’s nearly dark, can they buy him a drink? In the pub, The Stranger cracks a dreadful joke – Jamie’s signature punchline. It’s him! As soon as they recognise Jamie, he vanishes. Filled with joy, they take it as a sign: he's ok, and they will be too.

Biblical Connection

“A Nice Walk” is a funny, uplifting and cathartic adaption of The Road To Emmaus (Luke 24:13) Disciples Cleophas and Simon become Connor and his sister Sam, while the unrecognised Jesus becomes their brother Jamie. Creating familial relationships between the characters deepens the story’s emotion and humour, while an uninvited travelling companion is rich with comic potential. The siblings’ ultimate discovery, that the person they wanted to leave is the one they most want to stay, makes for satisfying and moving cinema. Paired with beautiful locations, colourful visuals and inflatable dinosaur costumes, this short will amuse and entertain audiences. Also, this film is incredibly personal. My grandfather passed away recently, so grief, loss and being unable to say goodbye are uppermost in my mind. I inherited my love of hiking and nature from him, so this is my tribute to him. The Emmaus story has always resonated with me, but I now see parallels with the grieving process; Jesus helps his despairing disciples process their loss and move forward with hope. Comedy allows us to address important, painful and universal subjects more meaningfully than any drama. My perspective will deliver a heartfelt, hilarious and wholesome short that audiences will adore.