Work - Film Review/Story
Directed by Aneil Karia
Produced by Scott O'Donnell
SGO Productions & Film4
"Work" is a BAFTA-nominated short film directed by Aneil Karia. It follows a
teenage girl named Jess as she moves through a single challenging day in a big city
workplace. We follow her from a dance rehearsal to a crowded bus and a café job.
Along the way, she faces bullying, unwanted attention, and even a moment of sexual
assault. Each scene feels real and unsettling, emphasizing how her day is more than
just work—it’s a test of strength and endurance.
The short film Work explores the quiet struggles of a young girl named Jess as she
moves through a normal day in her life. Even though nothing major happens in the
film, it shows how life can be heavy and tiring for people, especially young women.
The main theme of the film is emotional survival in everyday life. Jess doesn’t fight in
a war or face a huge disaster she just goes to work, takes the bus, dances, and tries
to get through her day. But everything around her feels uncomfortable, unsafe, or
emotionally draining.
One powerful theme in the film is how people especially women are expected to
stay calm and polite even when they feel stressed, scared, or hurt.
situation at work. These small moments may not seem big to others, but they build up.
The film shows that it’s not just physical work that’s hard it’s also the emotional work of staying strong and quiet in a world that doesn’t treat you fairly.
The short film Work follows the emotional journey of the main character, Jess, played
by Jasmine Breinburg. The story unfolds through a series of quietly traumatizing
moments that Jess experiences, such as being suddenly called out to dance in public.
These moments reveal the emotional weight she carries but tries hard to conceal. Jess
keeps her feelings tightly controlled, refusing to let others see the strain beneath her
calm surface. She endures not only social pressure but also personal struggles at home from her mother, her father, and the demands of her environment. Despite
everything pressing down on her, she shows a quiet act of resilience. Jess stays standing, emotionally guarded yet unbroken, showing strength in simply holding herself together.The film uses handheld gears, sometimes to create shaky camera movements to make us feel uneasy, like we're right there with Jess. It puts us inside her world, feeling her
anxiety, how trapped she is, and how alert she has to be all the time. These shots are
not only technically impressive but emotionally resonant, particularly during the scene in which she navigates a public altercation. The use of long takes and minimal cuts enhances the realism and emphasizes the inescapability of her situation, drawing us into her silent turmoil.Close-up shots and blurry backgrounds (shallow focus) help show how alone Jess feels, both mentally and emotionally. The blurred surroundings suggest she's disconnected or numb to what's around her.
The colors in the film are mostly dull lots of greys, blues, and whites which makes everything feel cold and distant, like the world doesn't care about Jess.
The lighting is very natural and sometimes harsh, almost like a documentary. It adds to the raw, real feeling of the film, making it hit even harder.The soundtrack and ambient sounds help establish the uneasy emotional tone of the film. During the scene where Jess was navigating the city, the lack of strong musical cues creates a tension and isolation.Though the film uses minimal dialogue, every word is audible and intentional. Jess often says little; her brief interactions are clearly delivered and easy to
understand.The film also employs professional sound mixing, where levels of dialogue, effects,and music are precisely managed.Though minimal, the film score in Work leaves a strong impression by supporting the emotional peak of the film. Its power lies in its restraint and timing, making it
unforgettable.Work is more than a film—it’s an emotional experience that challenges viewers to
confront their own assumptions and emotional boundaries. It leaves a lasting impression, not with cinematic spectacle, but through raw human connection. In just under 90 minutes, it teaches us more about healing, masculinity, and community than
most films ever attempt. The film stirred strong emotions: sorrow, empathy,admiration. We would absolutely recommend it to others, especially anyone interested in psychology, social justice, or masculinity. It reminds us that transformation is
possible, even in the darkest of places.
It’s a film worth recommending not for light entertainment, but for anyone interested in stories that tap into the unspoken struggles people carry, especially in environments where they are expected to remain composed. The impact is subtle yet
profound. It leaves us thinking not just about the character but about the real people she represents.
The message stays with us:
There’s a breaking point behind every quiet face.
STORY SUMMARY – “WORK” by Aneil Karia
Jess (played by Kate Phillips) is a young Black woman navigating a cold London morning. Her goal: to get through the day — to hold herself together in a world that constantly pressures her to stay composed, graceful, and silent. Jess (Kate Phillips) A ballet dancer with emotional weight pressing in from all sides tries to maintain control, to perform, and to function, despite rising internal chaos.Dance Instructor – Represents the rigid expectations of performance and conformity. Wants discipline and order.Fellow Dancers – Quiet, almost robotic figures who mirror perfection and uniformity, contrasting Jess’s raw energy.
CLIMAX
Jess explodes during rehearsal. Her movements abandon the structure of ballet and descend into raw, wild motion. This is her breaking point — a rebellion against restraint, an eruption of everything she’s held in.
RESOLUTION
There’s no full resolution only release. Jess walks away from the studio, spent, silent, but no longer holding it all in. The world hasn’t changed, but she has cracked through the surface of her pain. The ending lingers in ambiguity a moment of truth rather than closure.
“WORK” captures, in less than 15 minutes, the emotional labor of existing in spaces that demand silence over self-expression.
Written by the Nakorm group 5).
Romaine Dodoo-BFATP28002
Micaiah Milady Orlanda-BFAMP28009
Caleb Duse-Anthony BFAMPP28005
OSEI OWUSU HENRY-BFAMP28002
Emelia Mawuena Akorli - BFAMP28041
Gloria obeng -BFATP28012
Albert Quarm -BFAMPP28033
Boye Gabriel Laryea - BFAMPP28009
Godwill Yayra Klutse -BFAPD28001
Divine Tagbotor - BFAMP28014
Fada Dennis Fiscian-BFAMP28028
Mensah Alexander BFAE28009
Adjei Poku Jesse-BFAFD28012
Osumanu Khadijah-BFAMP28036
Samlafo Worlasi-BFAMP28025
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