By Valerie Milano
Los Angeles, CA (The Hollywood Times) 1/9/24 – In the wake of tragedy, the question of how to rebuild one’s life can linger like an unspoken echo. Writer and Director Misan Harriman dives headfirst into this poignant inquiry with his emotionally charged, Oscar-nominated short film, The After. Through the lens of this gripping narrative, Harriman explores the profound impact of an unexpected and devastating incident on the life of Dayo, portrayed by the talented David Oyelowo. The film unveils a harrowing tale of resilience as Dayo grapples with life, succeeding a random attack in the heart of London. For Dayo as well as many viewers that watch the short on Netflix, perspectives can change along with everything else, in The After.
Spoiler alert: the first few minutes of The After completes an excellent job at captivating viewers. Misan Harriman candidly explains the deliberate inclusion of gut-wrenching visuals almost moments after the film beginning, by reflecting on the tumultuous year of 2020, “That’s why I added some of the unflinchingly, hard to watch visuals in the first 3 minutes of the short” Harriman denotes, “I had a pretty difficult time in 2020 as many of us did when Covid came into our lives and so much of the world we knew was turned upside down. I also had a newborn baby and certainly multiple mental health crises in my own life. Knowing that other people probably had a similar experience, I wanted my first moving image in the short to be something that takes you to a place where you can recognize some of your own open wounds, but also where there is a hand in the dark that’s helping to pull you up into the light.”
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The short continues into the cinematic mundane and triggering ‘going through the motions’ of grief as Dayo attempts to re-assimilate into society via gig work. “With grief, I think one of the illusions of telling yourself ‘I am better’ is by almost lying to yourself about having human contact; there are few jobs that have more human contact than being a rideshare driver. So, if you wanted to fool yourself that you were doing better you could say, ‘Yeah, I spoke to 40 people today!’ I thought that this allowed Dayo’s character to hide in plain sight, but having the audience know what he’s really been through and seeing him in these positions I thought was a really great juxtaposition as well as having Dayo observe so many other people’s stories when we all know what had been taken from him.”
Misan Harriman’s emotionally charged narrative, personified by the remarkable David Oyelowo, transcends the screen, delving into the human experience of rebuilding shattered lives. With a deliberate inclusion of raw visuals, Harriman unearths the shared vulnerabilities that connect us all. As Dayo navigates the mundane rituals of grief, the film becomes a poignant reflection on the deceptive nature of healing. The After invites viewers to witness the subtle nuances of Dayo’s struggle for normalcy, cleverly juxtaposed against the backdrop of everyday interactions. It’s a powerful testament to the indomitable human spirit, leaving an indelible mark on those who venture into its emotional landscape. Please view The After streaming on Netflix!
