Ronan's Escape

Ronan's Escape

Ronan's Escape Movie Poster
Directed by A.J. Carter
Written by A.J. Carter
Starring David Lazarus
Ashleigh Zinko
Ryan Cammiade
Matthew Hennighan
Louie Van Praag
Kirstie Francis
Release dates
2010
Running time
16 min
Country Australia
Language English

Ronan's Escape is a 2010 short film directed by Australian born film writer/director A.J. Carter. The film, set in the rural wheat belt of Western Australia, provides a candid insight into the life of Ronan, a 14-year-old boy who has been bullied at school his whole life and decides to make an escape. This accurate and controversial portrayal[1][2] of life for someone who has fallen victim to bullying and the repercussions which exist, is told in a unique, exposition intensive format with very little use of dialogue. Ronan's Escape presents arbitrary scenes rather than traditional storytelling which provokes audiences into discussion and interpretation of the scenes on a more personal level while reflecting on their own experiences.

Plot

At school during break, a bully named Ryan (played by Ryan Cammiande), kicks a ball at a young boy, Ronan (played by David Lazarus), sitting alone by himself causing him to fall down and everyone laughs at him. While restraining himself afterwards he finds a wounded bird and puts it in his bag. Later, during gym class, the teacher (played by Louie Van Praag) organizes a baton race. While preparing, another bully, named Colin (played by Matthew Henningham), sneakily unties the laces on Ronan's shoes so he trips just as he nears the finish line causing him to get jeered by his classmates including Sally (played by Ashleigh Zinko), a girl who actually trusted that Ronan could win for her team but lost faith in him after Ryan confessed that he told her he was a loser.

On the bus ride home afterwards Ronan's bag is stolen by Justin (played by James Tayler), who tosses it about with everyone else. Ronan retrieves his bag and walks back to his seat admit teasing from everyone. After this, he gets off the bus and walks up to a tree near his home with a tire swing on it, instead of going home. Eventually he finds the bird in his bag that has now been killed due to Justin tossing it around on the bus. Ronan buries it and then finds a piece of paper that says "Loser" on it, which is what everyone has been calling Ronan, and he decides that him and the bird were one. So he decides to have the same life as the bird did. Later on his mother (played by Kristie Chorley) has been talking to another woman but then starts searching for her son after being made aware that Ronan was not on the bus that passed by her house. She gets worried as she looks out into the trees where Ronan is. While the sun is setting it is shown that Ronan has hung himself off the tree with the rope from the tire swing. Ronan's life is now forever peaceful.

Cast

Release

Ronan's Escape premiered on 15 February 2010 at Hoyts Cinemas (Southlands, Western Australia).[1] The film has since been screened around the world in public film festivals and has also been used in schools as an educational tool, primarily in the United States, against school bullying.[3]

Critical Acclaim

The continued international success of Ronan's Escape has seen the film officially selected into 19 international festivals around the world and has earned a total of 13 award nominations and 10 wins.[4] Awards include Best Short Film at the prestigious 16th Annual Sedona International Film Festival, 2010 Director's Choice Awards, presented to Carter by filmmaker Michael Moore,[5] Best International Film at the 6th Annual HollyShorts Film Festival in Hollywood,[6] and the World Cinema / Van Gogh award for Best Director at the 2011 Amsterdam International Film Festival.[7]

Awards and Nominations

Ronan's Escape
Year Festival Award Nomination Result
2010 6th Annual HollyShorts International Film Festival Best International Film WON
2010 17th Annual Sedona International Film Festival Best Short Film WON
2011 Amsterdam International Film Festival Best Director (Van Gogh World Directing Award) WON
2011 Shorts Film Festival Best upcoming Screenwriter WON
2011 Peace on Earth Film Festival Best Short Narrative Film WON
2011 Australian Cinematographers Society Awards Best Cinematography- Short Fictional Drama WON
2011 Los Angeles International Film Festival Best Production Design WON
2011 Los Angeles International Film Festival Best Film Honorable Mention WON
2011 Peace on Earth Film Festival Best Short Film - Student Choice award WON
2012 Focus Film Festival Best Film - Best of Festival award WON

References

  1. 1 2 "Ronan's Escape Red Carpet Premiere". Film & Television Institute (WA) Inc. February 2010. Retrieved 1 October 2013.
  2. "Ronan's Escape". IMDb. Retrieved 1 October 2013.
  3. Carter, A.J. (13 December 2011). "Ronan's Escape official film release". A.J. Carter. Retrieved 1 October 2013.
  4. "News Feed". Ronan's Escape. Retrieved 1 October 2013.
  5. "Past Festival Award Winners". Sedona International Film Festival. Retrieved 1 October 2013.
  6. "Film Festival". HollyShorts. Archived from the original on 21 August 2012. Retrieved 2012-07-31.
  7. "2011 Amsterdam Film Festival Announces Awards". Amsterdam Film Festival. Retrieved 1 October 2013.

External links

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